Alevi history

The reaction of representatives of the Bektashi (or Bektashi) sect in Turkey is being provoked by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s plan to establish within his country’s territory a sovereign Muslim Bektashi Muslim state on the model of the Vatican.

The Sivas Massacre, an arson attack staged by an extremist mob against mostly Alevi guests attending an event at Madımak Hotel that killed 33 intellectuals and two hotel personnel, was commemorated on its 26th anniversary on July 2 in the Central Anatolian province.

The Sivas Massacre, an arson attack staged by an extremist mob on mostly Alevi intellectuals inside the Madımak Hotel that killed 33 intellectuals and two hotel personnel, was commemorated on its 25th anniversary on July 2 in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas.

Concerns have been raised in the Central Anatolian province of Malatya after the doors of several homes in an Alevi neighborhood were “marked” red in the early hours of Nov. 2.

The Cem Foundation, a foundation that represents a portion of Turkey's Alevi sect, has asked the Turkish Education Ministry for the concepts of "Salafism" and "jihad" to be removed from the renewed education curriculum, saying these concepts could make "radical religious groups" feel encouraged.

A Turkish Alevi foundation has released a list of suggestions that was submitted to the Education Ministry on Jan. 30 to demand that officials include lessons on their faith in religious classes amid changes to the country's curriculum.

According to Turkey's top cleric, the Turkish nation's verdict has precedence over a verdict by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which recently found Turkey guilty of violating Alevis' right to religious freedom and discrimination by withholding public funds for Alevi worship houses "with no objective and reasonable justification." 

Turkey's newly elected government has given signals that it may move to address the grievances of the country's Alevi community through a new "Alevi opening." Following its crushing election victory on Nov. 1, some think the Justice and Development Party (AKP) now has the political cushion to pass legislative changes that - however necessary - may not be popular with its base. 

Having almost completed its planned legislative program before officially taking over as the newly elected 64th government of Turkey, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is expected to prioritize a fresh "Alevi opening" to address the status and rights of Alevi citizens.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales has accepted the British Alevi Foundation (BAF), an umbrella body of 12 Alevi centers in the United Kingdom, as a religious charity, giving the community a legal recognition that is denied to it in Turkey.