Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently held a meeting at the Presidential Complex with Ahmad Oğurlu, a prominent religious leader from the Alevi community.
During the meeting, Oğurlu presented the issues and demands of the Alevi community to President Erdoğan.
According to reports, the demands include the establishment of schools for the training of Alevi religious leaders, modeled after Imam Hatip schools, as well as state-funded salaries for the staff of Cemevi (Alevi places of worship).
Oğurlu also thanked President Erdoğan for taking steps to preserve Alevi culture and heritage. In response, Erdoğan directed bureaucrats to take immediate action on these demands.
Ahmad Oğurlu, an influential leader of the Alevi community in the eastern province of Erzincan, gained widespread public support when he organized a large rally on January 1 in solidarity with the Palestinian people against Israeli oppression.
Under President Erdoğan’s leadership, the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidential Institution was established in 2022 to address the issues of this community.
This institution, operating under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, has already supported several social organizations.
Its primary tasks include assisting with the maintenance and repair costs of Cemevi and providing help with bills for utilities like water and electricity.
The Alevi belief is a unique cultural and religious blend that combines Shi’a Islam, the Bektashi Sufi tradition, and Anatolian folk culture.
While official statistics are not available, it is estimated that the Alevi community in Turkey numbers around 20 million.
The Alevi community has long advocated for the official recognition of their identity, the legal status of Cemevi, funding, and exemption from compulsory religious education.
Since 2002, during Erdoğan’s government, between 80-90% of Cemevi have been constructed. A significant milestone was reached in 2022 when Cemevi were officially recognized, granting them the right to discounted or free water from municipal authorities.
In 2009, the first Alevi Initiative was launched to address the community’s issues, with then-Prime Minister Erdoğan holding several workshops with Alevi leaders.
However, following 2021, the issues faced by the Alevi community were taken more seriously, with concrete actions being taken after the establishment of the Cemevi Presidential Institution in 2022.
