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Sunday, November 8, 2009
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Thousand of Alevis rally in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district for equal religious rights.
President Abdullah Gül’s symbolic visit to an Alevi house of worship in Tunceli last week had little effect in silencing Alevi demands as thousands rallied in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district on Sunday for equal religious rights.
Alevis from across Turkey called on the government to abolish the Religious Affairs Directorate, eliminate compulsory religious-education classes, recognize cemevis as legitimate houses of worship, and transform the Madımak Hotel in Sivas, where 33 Alevis were killed by a fundamentalist mob, into a museum.
Last week, Gül made a historic visit to the southeastern province of Tunceli and visited a cemevi, but the visit was deemed “insincere” by Alevis. Alevis are commonly viewed as a liberal sect of Shia Islam.
“Many presidents have visited cemevis, but what difference does it make when they are not recognized as legal houses of worship?” Ali Balkiz, chairman of the Alevi-Bektashi Federation, said during his speech at the rally.
Hüseyin, a 26-year-old demonstrator who declined to give his last name, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that nothing good could come from the initiatives the government launched. “We will continue to rally and make our voices heard until our demands are addressed,” he said.
Comparing this year’s rally with last year's rally, Hüseyin said the turnout was much greater this year. He told the Daily News this is an indication of the strength of Alevis’ strong belief in their faith.
“We cannot make our voice heard through the media and columnists,” Balkız told protesters. “It is only through these mass movements that awareness can be raised among the public and the Alevi voice can be heard. A year after our rally, nothing has changed. We will continue to rally until our demands are met.”
“What some call the ‘Alevi issue’ we call a ‘political disgrace.’ What is actually being done by the government as part of their so-called Alevi reform?” Balkız said. “We ask for visible changes to be made; we ask for our prayer houses to be legalized and for the government to pay utility and operating expenses on them.”
P.S: What I am trying to do is to show the struggle of a minority, maybe the largest minority in Turkey, called Alevis. Armenians suffered so much under the monarchy of Ottoman Empire, but it is certain that Alevis suffered much more than Armenians did. So the destiny of Alevis and Armenians can be said to be similar.
Peace..
ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Thousand of Alevis rally in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district for equal religious rights.
President Abdullah Gül’s symbolic visit to an Alevi house of worship in Tunceli last week had little effect in silencing Alevi demands as thousands rallied in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district on Sunday for equal religious rights.
Alevis from across Turkey called on the government to abolish the Religious Affairs Directorate, eliminate compulsory religious-education classes, recognize cemevis as legitimate houses of worship, and transform the Madımak Hotel in Sivas, where 33 Alevis were killed by a fundamentalist mob, into a museum.
Last week, Gül made a historic visit to the southeastern province of Tunceli and visited a cemevi, but the visit was deemed “insincere” by Alevis. Alevis are commonly viewed as a liberal sect of Shia Islam.
“Many presidents have visited cemevis, but what difference does it make when they are not recognized as legal houses of worship?” Ali Balkiz, chairman of the Alevi-Bektashi Federation, said during his speech at the rally.
Hüseyin, a 26-year-old demonstrator who declined to give his last name, told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review that nothing good could come from the initiatives the government launched. “We will continue to rally and make our voices heard until our demands are addressed,” he said.
Comparing this year’s rally with last year's rally, Hüseyin said the turnout was much greater this year. He told the Daily News this is an indication of the strength of Alevis’ strong belief in their faith.
“We cannot make our voice heard through the media and columnists,” Balkız told protesters. “It is only through these mass movements that awareness can be raised among the public and the Alevi voice can be heard. A year after our rally, nothing has changed. We will continue to rally until our demands are met.”
“What some call the ‘Alevi issue’ we call a ‘political disgrace.’ What is actually being done by the government as part of their so-called Alevi reform?” Balkız said. “We ask for visible changes to be made; we ask for our prayer houses to be legalized and for the government to pay utility and operating expenses on them.”
P.S: What I am trying to do is to show the struggle of a minority, maybe the largest minority in Turkey, called Alevis. Armenians suffered so much under the monarchy of Ottoman Empire, but it is certain that Alevis suffered much more than Armenians did. So the destiny of Alevis and Armenians can be said to be similar.
Peace..
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