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Court rules for Shiite minority

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

A Turkish high court ruled that religious education classes geared toward Sunni Muslims should not be compulsory, a major victory for a Shiite branch of Islam.

The ruling affecting Turkey’s Alevi community is also likely to please the European Union, which has made religious liberties a condition for Turkey’s membership bid.

The Alevis are followers of a tradition rooted in Shiite beliefs, and have long complained of discrimination and forced assimilation through mandatory courses on Sunni Islam in schools. An overwhelming majority of Turks are Sunni.

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Turkey’s Education Ministry will now have to either introduce classes geared toward the Alevi faith or make religious classes non-mandatory.

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