The primary legal basis for religious minorities in Turkey is the Treaty of Lausanne , which grants specific civil and political rights to "non-Muslim minorities".
: Large communities like Alevis , as well as Syriacs, Roman Catholics, and Protestants, are not formally recognized as minorities, which limits their access to certain institutional rights and state funding. Major Minority Groups 1. The Alevis: The Largest Minority Religious Minorities in Turkey: Alevi, Armenian...
: Their faith is a distinct and mystical interpretation of Islam, fusing elements of Shia Islam, Sufism, and ancient Anatolian traditions. The primary legal basis for religious minorities in
: In practice, the Turkish state officially recognizes only Greeks, Armenians, and Jews as minorities under this treaty. The Alevis: The Largest Minority : Their faith
The Alevis represent the largest religious minority in Turkey, with estimates ranging between of the population.
: Unlike the Sunni majority, Alevis gather in houses of worship called Cemevis rather than mosques. Key Challenges :
Mandatory religious education in public schools focuses on Sunni Islam, leaving Alevi students without a curriculum that reflects their own faith.