Abu Dhabi, UAE — The Ministry of Education was placed in a piquant situation when a family belonging to an Islamic sect sought exemption for their son from being taught Islamic Studies in a private school, claiming to be followers of an independent faith.
The ministry, which had not faced such a situation earlier, however, turned down the Lebanese Druz family's request, after it was proved legally that the sect belonged to Islamic faith.
Abu Dhabi Educational Zone sources said the ministry arrived at the decision after it sought legal opinion from religious authorities on the issue.
The judicial authorities told the ministry that Druz is part of Islam, and that the followers of the faith are classified as Muslims in countries like Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.