Shia conference held in Istanbul
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Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 15, 2006 12:19
Over 5,000 Turks attended a Shia conference held at the Bagcilar Sports Centre in Istanbul on Sunday. The conference which started at 2.30 p.m. was held to mark the establishment of the Association of Research and Education for Shiaism in Turkey and was the largest meeting of its kind to date.
Haberin Devamı
Two prominent Iraqi clerics spoke at the event and talked about how Shias should have rights in Turkey and that the message was one of love, peace and happiness for all. A Shia member of parliament was also asked to speak, while leader of the Shia in Turkey, Selahattin Uzgundur was the main speaker.
Turkey being a prodominantly Sunni state, does not recognise the Shias under Turkish law, although times are changing. Turkish Shias are hoping that with Turkey hoping to join the European Union it will change their status as minority rights will become an issue going into the EU bloc.