Turkish Minority Stages Mass Rally in Istanbul
http://www.albawaba.com – 9/2/15
Thousands of members of a religious minority in Turkey gathered in the center of Istanbul Sunday, demanding human rights and the preservation of the country’s secularism, AFP reported.
The Alevis, which are a kind of Shia group, held signs in favor of Turkey’s secular system. AFP reported the group thinks its rights in a Sunni-dominated country are threatened under President Tayyip Erdogan’s rule.
The Alevis make up more than 10 percent of Turkey’s population, making it the largest minority in Turkey. The minority is suspicious of Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), according to AFP, and their tendencies toward a less secular administration.
Protesters told the AFP that AKP “took no account of different beliefs and identities,” and that the adminsitration is heading toward a “reactionary” rule.
© Assyrian International News Agency.
