Turkey: The situation of Alevis (November 2003 - August 2004)

Information on the situation of Alevis in Turkey, in addition to the general information that is contained in the International Religious Freedom Report 2003, was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

During a meeting of Alevi leaders, which was held in November 2003, the Chairman of the Cem Foundation, Izzettin Dogan, indicated that Alevi, Bektashi and Mevlevi interests and values were not being represented at the government level, and that the government was "'resist[ing]'...the issue of Alevi rights" (Sabah 9 Nov. 2003). Dogan was also critical of a statement that was made by the Prime Minister, in which he declared Alevism to be a culture, rather than a religion (ibid.).

In a February 2004 interview with the Milliyet, described by the United States' Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) as a centrist, Istanbul-based daily newspaper, the head of the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate, Ali Bardakoglu, stated that the Directorate was wrongly perceived to be a Sunni establishment and declared that he is committed to "correct [the] mistakes" that were made which gave life to that perception (2 Feb. 2004). Bardakoglu also added that "[t]he Alevites are our Muslim brothers. We cannot accept attempt[s] ... to portray Alevism as a separate religion. Alevism is a cultural system and a sect within Islam..." (Milliyet 2 Feb. 2004). In an effort to evoke a positive change in the attitude of the Sunni community towards Alevis in Turkey, Bardakoglu stated that there are plans to publish Alevi reference books that educate the public about Alevism (ibid.). Further, Bardakoglu indicated that there are plans to establish a research centre under the auspices of the Religious Affairs Directorate, "which will be responsible for determining what kind of a religion we can offer to different groups who form a part of Islam as the common identity. We are moving slowly, because it must be based on scientific data" (ibid.).

Following the election of the Justice Development (AK) Party on 3 November 2003, the education minister officially agreed to allow schools to teach about Alevism (Turkish Daily News 25 Feb. 2004). According to the Turkish Daily News, the government had begun to implement this initiative and approached the Religious Affairs Directorate for its assistance (ibid.). However, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003 reported that Alevis had, in 2003, "alleged discrimination in the Government's failure to include any of their doctrines or beliefs in religious instruction classes" (25 Feb. 2004, Sec. 2.c). Information on whether students are currently being taught about Alevism could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, in an 11 August 2004 news item on minority rights in Turkey, Minority Rights Group International (MRG) declared that although reforms aimed at improving the treatment of minorities in Turkey "look progressive on paper," in actuality they "remain unimplemented, due in part to institutional inability to fully accept principles of minority rights." MRG argued that what is necessary is "the very acceptance and recognition of minorities [and] the actual implementation of both the letter and the spirit of new laws that purport to allow rights including the practice of language and religion" (MRG 11 Aug. 2004). On the issue of Alevis, the report that was prepared and submitted by the MRG to the EU noted the following: Firstly, on 15 July 2004, the Turkish government amended the Act on Construction so as to permit the establishment of places of worship (MRG Aug. 2004, 26). The law however, does not identify the types of places of worship that can be established, and so "applications for establishing cemevis [Alevi religious institutions] have been rejected on the basis that they are cultural centres rather than places of worship" (ibid., 27).

Secondly, classes entitled "'Religious Culture and Knowledge of Morality'," which teach students about the Sunni religion without any reference to Alevis and minimal reference to other non-Islamic faiths, continue to be compulsory for all students, except Protestants and Christian Syriacs (ibid., 28). MRG reports that references to non-Islamic religions include "incorrect or discriminatory statements" (ibid.). Alevi children are required to attend these classes, and the Alevis are opposed to this requirement (ibid.).

Thirdly, although the state of emergency has been lifted from the eastern and south-eastern provinces of Turkey, many Alevis who were evacuated from their homes have received no compensation, no alternative accommodation and continue to be barred from returning to their villages for "'security reasons'" (ibid., 32).

Reports of incidents of ill-treatment by state and/or non-state agents could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. [Accessed 18 Aug. 2004]

Milliyet [Istanbul, in Turkish]. 2 February 2004. "Turkish Daily Interviews Top Muslim Clergy on Islam, Terror, Reform Process." (FBIS-WEU-2004-0204 5 Feb. 2004/WNC)

Minority Rights Group International (MRG). 11 August 2004. "Turkey Must Improve Minority Rights Reforms or Face EU Exclusion." [Accessed 19 Aug. 2004]
_____. July 2004. Minorities in Turkey. Submission to the European Union and the Government of Turkey." [Accessed 19 Aug. 2004]

Sabah [Istanbul, in Turkish]. 9 November 2003. Izzettin Dogan. "Turkey: Govt Warned Against Failing to Officially Recognize, Respect Alevi Faith." (FBIS-WEU-2003-1111 13 Nov. 2003/WNC)

Turkish Daily News. 25 February 2004. "Schoolbooks to Teach About Alawite Sect." [Accessed 19 Aug. 2004]

Additional Sources Consulted

The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, in Kizilay, Turkey, did not respond to a letter requesting information.

Human Rights Watch, London, UK.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ankara.

Internet sites, including: Al Bawaba, Amnesty International (AI), BBC, Dialog, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Freedom in the World 2003, Human Rights Association of Turkey, Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), International Crisis Group (ICG), International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, The Middle East Times, Organization of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE-RL).