This is exactly what the “status quo” is. When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk introduced the reform movement, he basically aimed to meet the needs of his time. But persisting in keeping those reforms today, after almost 80 years have passed, leads to anachronism. Arguing that Turkish civilization can only make progress through science, not through the teachings of sheikhs and dervishes, Atatürk made a law to close all dervish lodges, hermitages and mausoleums. But today mausoleums have re-opened and dervish orders are covertly operating; but still, an article in the Constitution argues for the continuation of these reforms. This issue has remained a taboo for a long time, and no one has yet dared to touch it. But today, at the point we have come so far in terms of democracy, an amendment to this law might be required to meet our Alevi citizens’ rightful demands. Cemevis (Alevi houses of worship) should regain the status of places of worship.
