Minority rights

Turkey is strictly a secular society. But religion remains a powerful force in society. It's a predominantly Muslim country, and the majority of Turks follow a Sunni strand of Islam. As much as a third of the Turkish population, however, are followers of Alevism. It is a very different understanding of Islam. Alevis don't pray in mosques, don't segregate men and women and don't believe in the pilgrimage to Mecca. Such differences have in the past sparked pogroms against believers, who have been labeled as heretics by the majority Sunnis.

Alevis still claim they suffer persecution and discrimination in Turkey. Education is one of the key points of contention with the state. After the military coup of 1980, compulsory religious classes were introduced in Turkish schools. Although the class is called "Religious Culture and Ethics," children are only taught the principles of Sunni Islam.

Hatice Kose is an Alevi and said she objects to the system of compulsory religious education in Turkish schools. She is even taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights. Kose said the current system pushed her son to give up his religious beliefs. She said his religious teacher was pressuring him to fast, for example.

"And he's forced to learn to pray like a Sunni," Kose said. "Every week, he faces three hours of indoctrination. When my son says, this is not my faith, the teacher says, what kind of Muslim are you? Another child I know was even beaten by his teacher for refusing to pray."

Committed to reform

Although Alevis are considered Shi'a Muslims, they worship in cemevi, or assembly houses, rather than mosques. The prayers are different than in a mosque. The ceremonies feature music and dance, where both women and men participate side-by-side.

The Alevi also believe in the separation of religion from the state, and are traditionally strong supporters of secularism in Turkey. But their beliefs aren't recognized by the state, which only recognizes the Sunni form of Islam. The government labels Alevism a cultural, rather than religious identity.

However, attitudes at least within the state and government could be changing. The state-run channel for the first time last December devoted a program to the Alevi celebration of Ashura. Until now, Alevis religious celebrations were ignored by state media. In another ground-breaking step, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed an Alevi gathering to mark the start of the festivities. Erdogan has also set up a series of meetings between Alevi representatives, academics and government members. It's a first for Turkey.

Farok Celick, the minister responsible for the initiative, said they are committed to reform.

"We will continue our meetings with social institutions and are giving utmost importance to our dialogue with political parties," Celick said. "We are establishing an alliance on this subject to introduce the necessary reforms with a wide consensus."

Boosting its EU bid

The initiative has been welcomed by the European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join. The EU has made religious liberties a condition for Turkish membership. But the government in Ankara has repeatedly delayed announcing its planned reforms and initial high expectations are fast dissipating.

Professor Istar Gozaydin of Istanbul Technical University is an expert on state and religion in Turkey and participated in one of the government workshops. She said the initiative has reached an impasse.

"It's difficult for the Sunni authorities to perceive that another understanding of Islam exists, which they consider not valid," Gozaydin said. Cemevis, for example, are not accepted as a place of prayer, but rather as a cultural center.

"In the Sunni understanding, a mosque is the only place for praying," Gozaydin said. "It's important because unless they start accepting it as another understanding of the religion, it's out of the question that it will come to an understanding of each other. It appears to be a dialogue, but then it turns out to be trying to assimilate them in their own understanding."

Love is the root of Alevism

The mutual distrust between Alevis and Sunnis dates back centuries. Recognizing the Alevis as a branch of Islam is heresy for many pious Sunni believers in Turkey. At the same time, Alevis argue that the Sunnis have distorted early Islam by misinterpreting important passages of the Quran. They say that the original Quran neither calls for the hadj - the ritual pilgrimage to Mecca - nor does it demand five daily prayers.

Alevi groups have also said that fundamentalist Sunni Islam is too prejudiced, bigoted and even antidemocratic. As Alevi mother Kose explained, their faith is based on the love of people.

"We are taught to live and understand people's differences and to believe in diversity and love nature," Kose said. "I want to pass these ideals on to my son. But there is so much ignorance and prejudice about us. My mother always told me never to tell anyone that you are Alevi and even today, I am careful who I tell about my beliefs."

Such caution is well-placed. Alevis have suffered numerous pogroms by Sunni believers because of their liberal outlook. In the 1970s, hundreds of Alevis died in communal massacres by religious nationalists. In 1993, then, 37 people died when an Islamic mob burned down a hotel filled with Alevi poets and musicians who were attending an Alevi cultural festival.

Legal backing supports Alevi demands

Even today, prejudice towards Alevis is easily found. Yet many Turks know very little about the Alevi, and prejudices continue to contribute to discrimination. But there is now a growing assertiveness among many Alevis.

Last November, more than 100,000 Alevis protested for greater rights, demanding that the state recognize Alevism as an official Islamic community. In the past, they had kept a low profile because of pogroms. But with the European Union strongly backing such demands, along with institutions like the European Court of Human Rights, there is now an increase in public confidence among the group, said sociologist Mehmet Ali Calisgun, who researches Alevi attitudes.

"After centuries of having problems, Alevis are for the first time carrying their problems to legal areas," Calisgun said. "Therefore, their problems are becoming visible in the community because up to now, they have chosen to repress their problems and not have them on the surface."

With EU backing, Alevi demands are set to rise, adding to pressure on Turkish society to embrace its diversity. Whether the government initiative succeeds or fails, Alevi rights seem set to remain on the Turkish political agenda for some time to come.

Author: Dorian Jones (sac)
Editor:Anke Rasper