On 11 June, the Committee of Ministers decided to end its supervision of the execution of the İzzettin Doğan and Others case following the measures taken by Turkish authorities.
In the İzzettin Doğan and Others case the applicants complained about the authorities’ refusal to provide the followers of the Alevi faith with the same religious public service as provided for the followers of the Sunni branch of Islam. They further alleged that they had been the victims of discrimination on the ground of their religion, as they had received less favourable treatment than followers of the Sunni branch of Islam, without any objective and reasonable justification. In its Grand Chamber judgment of 2016, the European Court found that the domestic authorities’ refusal had numerous adverse and discriminatory consequences for the Alevi community violating the applicants’ right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (violation of Article 9). The Court also found that there had been a discrimation on account of the differential treatment in religious services, creating imbalance for the Alevi community (violation of Article 14 in conjunction with Article 9). The authorities took several measures to address the adverse consequences, such as the establishment of the “Presidency of Alevi Bektashi Culture and Cemevis” as well as the adoption of a series of legislative amendments to allow the Alevi community to benefit from state funded religious services. The numerous measures adopted enabled the construction, maintenance, and reimbursement of various costs for cemevis, as well as employment of the Alevi religious leaders by State funds.
In its decision, the Committee of Ministers welcomed the legislative measures taken by the authorities and their practical impact providing the Alevi community with public religious service financed by the state. It deemed these measures to be capable of eliminating the imbalance in the religious public services provided by the state for the Alevi community. Considering the margin of appreciation of states in the organisation of their cooperation with religious communities and in view of the adopted measures, the Committee decided to close its supervision of this case.
Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights in Türkiye
