TEACHING OF RELIGION IN THE SCHOOLS OF TURKEY IN THE LIGHT OF DECISIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Abstract

Religious instruction in Turkish schools is compulsory since 1982. However, Turkish nationals of non-Muslim origin are exempted from religious culture and ethics classes, while for Turkish nationals of Muslim origin these classes are compulsory.Although the majority of the population in Turkey is Sunni Hanafi Muslim, Islam is not a monolithic religion in this society. There are diff erent streams within Islam in Turkey, and maybe most signifi cant among those is Alevism. According to some Alevis, religious culture and ethics classes do not comply with the principles of objectivity and pluralism.This article discusses the case of Hasan and Eylem Zengin against Turkey held in the European Court of Human Rights and evaluates the infl uence of the ECHR’s decisions on modifi cation of the religious instruction in schools of Turkey.