Democratic initiative

Municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People?s Party (CHP) have started recognizing cemevis as places of worship, while also pledging to meet the needs of cemevis, or Alevi houses of worship.

The Council of Europe has hailed Turkey?s decision to allow the building of a new church for the Syriac community in Istanbul, which will be the first new church to be built in the country in nearly a century.

Several leading Alevis associations have decided to hold a large rally in Istanbul on Feb. 8.

The decision to hold the rally was made in a meeting of the Alevi Bekta?i Federation, the Alevi Foundations Federation, and the Alevi Associations Federation, under the title "Alevi Unity Solidarity Meeting" in Istanbul on Jan. 4.

The Turkish government is working on a draft reform bill allowing Alevis to choose their own religion courses at school and give their places of worship the same rights as mosques.

As Turkey’s public policies regarding cemevis, Alevi places of worship, have been labeled as discriminatory by the top European court on human rights, a Turkish court has made a landmark decision, stating that the determination on whether cemevis are places of worship or not cannot be made by the judiciary.

Turkey's public policies regarding cemevis, Alevi houses of worship, discriminate against the Alevi community, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has stated in a landmark ruling.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said the government is strongly against discrimination toward the Alevi citizens and he will “personally follow-up” if any kinds of official discrimination occur, during a speech in the Eastern Turkish province of Tunceli on Nov. 23.

Turkey on Oct. 21 launched a new operation to arrest top police officers suspected of involvement in illegal eavesdropping on senior officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has often expressed pride over what he says is his brain child, namely the peace process that is meant to solve Turkey’s age old Kurdish problem and end the violence by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The leader of Turkey’s main nationalist opposition party has strongly urged President Erdoğan to cease holding 'political rallies' during visits which are financed by state funds