The Problems Of Religious Education In Turkey Alevi Citizen Action And The Limits Of ECTHR

Executive Summary

Problems in religious education (RE) have become a topic of significant interest in recent years due to the activities of European and Turkish interest groups as well as the decisions of domestic and international courts. This policy brief examines the role of regional norms regarding religious education, or the absence of such norms, and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in shaping debates and policies on religious education in Turkey, with a particular focus on the issues raised by the Alevi community.

The study discusses the extent to which the content and scope of religious education in Turkey reflect regional frameworks concerning religious rights and freedoms. It also examines the role of courts in reshaping religious education policies. In particular, the brief seeks to explain why the transformative impact of the ECtHR remains limited and outlines short-term and long-term measures needed to address the key challenges.