The religious festivals of Jewish and Armenian students in Turkey have been recognized at an institutional level for the first time, the Istanbul-based Hurriyet daily reported on Tuesday.

In a mandate sent to the offices of university rectors, Yusuf Ziya Ozcan, the president of Higher Education Board (YOK) requested that the Jewish and Armenian staff and students be allowed to take a vacation during their religious holidays. The YOK also sent the mandate to the chief rabbi's office and the Armenian Patriarchal Presidency.