Alawite Shias criticize new school curriculum prompting Sunni Islam at expense of other sects

Alawite organizations from the followers of Ahlulbayt, peace be upon them, have strongly opposed the proposed new educational curriculum from kindergarten to 12th grade, which carries an ideological influence that distorts the image and history of the sect’s members.

According to the news website “Artı Gerçek” followed by “Shia News Agency”, Alawite Shia in Turkey criticized the introduction of a new educational curriculum that does not align with the history and struggle of the Turkish people, including the Alawite community”.

Mustafa Aslan, the president of the Alawite Union, was quoted saying: “The new educational curriculum pushes towards a single religious ideology and retrogressive and racist policies against Turkish religious components, including the Alawite community.”

Aslan also criticized “the inclusion of subjects such as military coups and wars in primary school curricula,” expressing “great concern about exposing young children to such topics that negatively affect their mental health.”

Additionally, the president of the Hacı Bektaş Veli Association, Erkan Yiğit, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current educational reforms under the Justice and Development Party government. Yiğit stated: “Our demand was to teach the history of religions, not to limit religious education to Sunni Islam and impose it on the entire society.”

In a related context, Alawite leaders expressed their increasing concern about the growing risks surrounding the community’s members in Turkey, while also announcing the failure of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government to fulfill its promises “to grant them more rights to practice their religious rituals.”

Historically, Alawites are the largest religious minority in Turkey, constituting up to 20% of the country’s population of 85 million people.