Alevis

Kazım Genç, president of the Alevi Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association, is preparing a press statement after his name was found on a “death list” by special operations police head İbrahim Şahin.

Alevis get their institute to deal with their problems. At the opening ceremony, Ertuğrul Günay, Minister of Tourism and Culture, apologizes to the Alevis for the past Maraş, Sivas and Çorum massacres.

Thousands of Alevites met in Adana and demanded the prosecution of the perpetrators of the 30 year old Maraş massacre. They sent their questions about the massacre to the President.

The Federation of the Alevi Bektashi Associations files a criminal complaint against the newspapers of Zaman, Yeni Şafak, Vakit and the Turkish State Television for publishing biased news against the Alevis regarding their “equal citizenship” meeting.

Although the Republican People’s Party (CHP) supported Kamer Genç’s proposal to discuss the legalization of the Alevite place of worship, the Parliament refused to bring it up.

Turkey’s Alevite community is getting ready to shout their demands in a mass gathering. They want to inform the public of the discrimination the Alevis have been experiencing and reveal the insincerity of the ruling party towards the Alevi demands.

Alevite organizations will organize an activity in Izmir on October 9 to protest the mandatory religion courses and submit their petition about the problem to the Education Directorship of the Torbali District.

The Kuşadası Cem House of the Alevi belief is recognized as a place of worship by the 13 member municipality assembly and therefore its water bill will be charged a mosque rate. Alevis see it as a very important step.

The reactions are continuing about Gökçek’s announcement that the Dikmen Valley Cemevi will be demolished since it is illegal. Alevis want Gökçek to be respectful to all beliefs.

Protesting government’s reluctance to do anything about the mandatory religious courses in spite of the EHRC and State Council decisions to the contrary, the Alevi organizations spread their activities to the whole nation.

The European Peace Assembly demands that the Turkish government bring to justice those responsible for the Sivas massacre fifteen years ago and meet the demands of the Alevi society.

The AKP deputy Reha Çamuroğlu, also the Prime Minister’s consultant for the matters related to Turkey’s Alevi community resigns his post, claiming that the AKP administration will not implement the Alevi reform package.

Around 400 academics have signed a statement which calls for democratisation not only around clothing rules at university.

According to official numbers, 111 people, mostly Alevis, died in the Maras Massacre from 19 to 25 December 1978. The ÖDP has called on Turkey to face up to its history.

The ECHR has decided that compulsory Religious Education classes contradict the principles of plurality and objectivity.