Buddhist mother's daughter exempted from religious studies in Artvin

A Buddhist mother, who is herself a graduate of an imam hatip school, requested that her daughter be exempted from mandatory religious studies as part of her freedom of belief. The family expressed their reaction to the religion-heavy approaches in the education system.

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Buddhist mother's daughter exempted from religious studies in Artvin

In Artvin, a 9th-grade student at a Social Sciences High School, D.Y., has been exempted from mandatory religious studies following an application by her parent. The family, stating that they have adopted the Buddhist faith, requested that courses in culture, art, and science be increased in place of religious studies.

EXEMPTION REQUEST VIA PETITION

D.Y.'s mother, Nesrin Ökçe, applied to the Artvin Provincial Directorate of National Education and the school administration, stating that her daughter has adopted the Buddhist faith and should therefore be exempted from mandatory religious studies. The family's petition included the statement, "We request that our daughter be exempted from religious studies within the framework of freedom of belief and that this situation does not negatively reflect on her grades."

'ÇEDES PROGRAMS ARE CONCERNING'

According to the report by Gazete Duvar, mother Nesrin Ökçe expressed her reaction to the weight of religious courses in education, saying, "Programs like ÇEDES were worrying us. They asked us to document our Buddhist faith, and we responded with a detailed population registration record. The education system is being shaped without the knowledge of parents."

'EXTREMISM IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IS CONCERNING'

Ökçe, who is an imam hatip graduate and has adopted the Buddhist faith, stated that mandatory religious education is contrary to individual freedoms. She said, "The issue of religion has been taken out of the initiative of families. Education is being redesigned with religious courses. As a society, we are being harmed by this, and we must not allow it."

Ökçe called on other parents to voice their objections as well, stating, "Religious pressures on children could lead to greater problems in the future. Parents should speak up without fear."

As a result of the evaluation by the Artvin Provincial Directorate of National Education, it was decided that D.Y. would be exempted from religious culture and ethics courses. The family hopes that the process will serve as an example for other parents.

News Source: 12punto