Minister Çelik calls for solution to Alevi problems

“It is up to individuals to define themselves. We accept everyone as they are. We all know that Alevis have problems coming from the depths of history. It would be unacceptable to let those problems remain unsolved for our societal peace, unity and individual rights and freedoms,” noted the minister during a speech he delivered on Friday at a symposium held at İstanbul's Fatih University on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the birth of Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, a beloved figure for Alevis and the man who established the Bektaşi order of dervishes.

Turkey's Alevi community, a religious group that differs from Sunni Islam, has for long complained to have been denied its cultural and religious rights. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government launched an initiative to settle problems faced by Alevis long ago, but the initiative has so far remained incomplete.

“Islam has been in contact with various cultures and values in all corners of the world. Within this context, Islam is lived in accordance with different traditions in our country. Contrary to general belief, this does not bring harm to our Muslim identities. On the contrary, it brings dynamism to our unity,” the minister said.

Çelik defined Alevism as a branch within Islam which evolved with the philosophies of prominent figures such as Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli and Ahmed Yesevi.

“Alevis add richness to the cultural, social and religious life of our country. This richness has always been a focus of efforts to be disturbed or damaged. We are all aware of efforts of some circles who wish to damage the history of these territories, which feed on different religions and different interpretations of the same religion. We can dismiss these efforts through our religious and cultural richness,” the minister added.

According to Çelik, the Turkish nation is like aşure, or Noah's pudding, with all its cultural and ethnic richness. Aşure is a sweet soup prepared by Turkish Muslims on the 10th days of the month of Muharrem to be distributed to other people. This soup is said to have been prepared by the Prophet Noah from the remaining supplies in his ark to celebrate the landing of the ark after the Great Flood.

“Like the ingredients of aşure, we have to protect ourselves both materially and spiritually. We want to become richer in the same pot. This is what our ancestors taught us. But we have forgotten this. Had we followed the path of Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli or that of Mevlana [Jelaluddin Rumi], we would have a stronger understanding of brotherhood,” Çelik noted.

The minister expressed his wish to lead a more democratic, humanistic and prosperous life in Turkey. He also mentioned about the ongoing governmental plans to settle the long-standing problems of Alevis. “This issue is so vital not to be left without a solution,” he said.

Four Alevi workshops have so far been held with the aim of examining the role of Alevis in Turkish society and ways to better enfranchise this oft-neglected group. The workshops were held with the participation of around 40 nongovernmental organizations, including professional associations, labor unions and human rights organizations.

Cengiz Hortoğlu, the president of the Irma Alevi-Bektaşi Education and Culture Association, also delivered a speech at the symposium during which he complained about information pollution on Alevism. "We need to clarify the unknown aspects of Alevism. This clarification is necessary for the history of Alevism," he noted.

Ahmet Yaşar Ocak, a professor of history at Hacettepe University, said it would be a dream to expect the government's Alevi initiative to be concluded in a few years. "This is a problem that has kept growing over the centuries. It would be a dream for it to be solved in two or three years. We should examine in depth problems faced by Alevis. We should not focus on the political aspects of those problems," he noted.