IX. Alevis, Prejudice, and Persecution

Alevis almost universally feel that they have been persecuted for their beliefs and cultural values for centuries. This prejudice is one reason why only until the 1990s did great numbers of Alevis begin publicly identifying with their faith and culture through publications and by forming various organizations. Blatant acts of prejudice and persecution against Alevis have made major headlines in the foreign and local press in recent years. I will now give three examples of prejudice and two recent incidents of violence that Alevis often discuss to demonstrate they suffer persecution.

Slander (iftira) in public school classrooms

It is a common complaint by Alevi students and parents that Alevism is either totally ignored, or it is described as an immoral, non-Muslim religion by teachers of the required religion classes in public schools. Many Alevis point out that their children feel degraded by such slander and feel helpless to correct their teachers' statements.

"The candle went out" (mum söndü

Many non-Alevis have the idea that during cem ceremonies held in the evenings, Alevis extinguish all lights and then commit incestuous and adulterous orgies {mum söndü). Alevis cite an event which occurred in

February, 1997 as an illustration of the depth of this prejudice. At the time, Turkish television and printed media were promoting a campaign against corruption in government called "One minute of darkness for the purpose of enlightenment" (Aydinlik için bir dakika karanlik). All citizens who wanted to show their support for clean, transparent government were encouraged to turn out all of the lights in their homes for one minute at 21:00 every night for a month. To express his dislike for such a protest, the government's Minister of Justice told the national press, "They are practicing 'the candle went out'" ('mum söndü yapiyorlar').

Kizilbashlik

Kizilbash kizilbas - literally "redhead") is a term historically used as a name for Alevi groups living in Anatolia. There is debate as to when the term actually came into use. But it is universally accepted that it comes from the fact that these Alevi Turkmen tribesmen at some time wore red headgear in battle. However, Alevis today prefer not to refer to themselves as Kizilbash. The term is used by non-Alevis to imply that Alevis are immoral.

Alevis point to an example of this prejudice which occured on a private television company's nationwide broadcast in January, 1995. Trying to be crudely humorous, a popular game show host had one of his female assistants dress as though she were pregnant. He told her, "I hope that baby isn't mine" {Umarim benim degildir). The girl replied, "No, it's my father's"

(Yok, babamin). The man then said, "1 didn't know you were a Kizilbash" (Kizilbaf oldugunu bilmiyordum),

Sivas

In July, 1993. an Alevi group called the Pir Sultan Abdal Association sponsored a conference in the capital city of Sivas province. Not all of the participants were Alevi. One non-Alevi participant was the Turkish author, Aziz Nesin, who was famous for being an outspoken critic of religious fanaticism. On Friday afternoon, 2 July, a group protesting the conference and Nesin's presence there appeared outside the hotel where the conference was being held. The hotel erupted in fire, and 37 people inside died from flames and smoke.

Alevis generally interpret the incident this way: The protestors were angry that the Alevi Pir Sultan Abdal Association had invited Aziz Nesin to their town and the protestors had been stirred to violent action during the Friday noon prayers at mosques. Alevis feel that because certain officials did nothing to prevent the protestors from burning down the hotel, they were just as guilty as those who set the fire. Alevis also feel the government did not act quickly enough to bring to justice all of those responsible for this incident.

Gaziosmanpasha, Istanbul

In March. 1995, someone fired a machine gun into a tea house frequented by Alevis. Two men were killed, including an Alevi dede. Many residents of the neighborhood, which is heavily populated by Alevis,

demonstrated because they felt the police were neither quick enough or serious enough in their investigation of the incident. Tension elevated, and in four days of demonstrations in various neighborhoods of Istanbul, more than 15 unarmed people, mostly Alevis, lost their lives from bullet wounds and other violence. Alevis generally interpret these incidents as conscious persecution against them.