Alavians are recognized in Switzerland

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Switzerland Basel-Stadt Canton parliament, as the first Canton in Switzerland, has recognized Alavi faith, which is a branch of Shia’ in Islam.Population of Alavians in the Canton is estimated around 5 to 6 thousand.Since 2006, laws of the Canton have allowed the parliament of the Canton to recognize a religion or a rite.The Canton parliament with no opposition recognized Alavians as a religion and all speakers praised good convergence of the followers of the religion with the Swiss society.Even members of rightist party of “ People” in the Canton underlined that, in many meetings with followers of the religion, have found them a people committed to democracy. /129