Ankara, Turkey - Ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party is preparing a historical step to push the button for Alawite initiative aiming at making important reforms for millions of Alawite belief followers in Turkey.
The initiative includes radical changes such as hiring Alawite clergies as religious staff who will be affiliated to the state and naming "Cem houses" (special buildings where Alawite population perform their religious duties and ceremonies) as temples. These moves are steps that will be taken as a part of allowing Alawites to be represented in the General Directorate of Religious Affairs affiliated to the step.
There are an estimated 5 to 12 million Alawites living in Turkey. They are followers of a belief system that incorporates aspects of both Shi'a and Sunni Islam and draws on the traditions of other religions found in Anatolia as well.
The Turkish Government considers Alawism a heterodox Muslim sect; however, some radical Sunnis claimed that Alawites were not Muslims. Many Alawites alleged discrimination in the Turkish Government's failure to include any of their doctrines or beliefs in religious instruction classes.
Alawites also charged that there was a Sunni bias in the General Directorate of Religious Affairs affiliated to the state since the directorate viewed Alawism as a cultural rather than a religious group and did not fund their activities and considered Cem houses as cultural houses rather than temples.
AK Party Istanbul Deputy Reha Camuroglu in charge of Alawite initiative told media that the move of the government is first of its kind in the history of the Modern Turkey aiming at taking important steps to improve the conditions of Alawites.
The project is expected to be completed in two years time.
"This is a very important political decision in the history of Turkish Republic. There are plenty of technical issues that should be solved. First we are willing to prepare a legal and official framework for the Alawite Initiative," told Camuroglu.
Camuroglu will be responsible for the initiative.
He said that lawyers, bureaucrats and Alawite associations will get together for a dialogue in order to establish the foundation of the Initiative.
PM ERDOGAN TO PARTICIPATE IN ALAWITE FESTIVITY
As a first step of the initiative, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will participate in a special activity organized by 200 different Alawite non-governmental organizations.
The festivity that will take place in January will mark the beginning of Fast of Muharrem (Muharrem or Matem Orucu).
This major Alawite fast is generally held the first twelve days of the month of Muharrem, or 20 days after the Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayram?). In addition to abstaining from food, many Alevis who fast from sunup to sundown during these twelve days will also abstain from drinking water both day and night. They will intake liquids other than water during the evening. During this fast, Alevis will also avoid any sort of comfort or enjoyment. A main purpose of this fast is to mourn the murder of Ali's son, Hüseyin, during the battle of Kerbela.
Erdogan would exchange views with the Alawite leaders regarding. The prime minister is expected to make frequent visits to Cem houses as a part of the Initiative in order to listen the complaints of Alawite population.
ALAWITES, THE STRICT SECULAR PART OF THE SOCIETY
Alawites often discuss these main issues connected with secularism in Turkey today such as compulsory religion courses in schools, whether Alawites should be officially recognized as a distinct religious group and the Directorate of Religious Affairs.
Government recognizes Jewish and Christian minorities, but Alevis are not officially recognized as a religious minority. This fact has many effects. For example, children of recognized minorities can request to be excused from the compulsory religion classes taught from elementary through high school, but Alawites cannot.
Alawites complain that all religions are not taught objectively in the schools. They say vast majority of religion teachers focus on Sunni sect and some even have prejudice against Alawites. Many Alawites believe these lessons should be abolished while others say it should be revised.
ALAWITE ASSOCIATIONS DISCUSS THE INITIATIVE
Camuroglu told media that some Alawite clergies have already contacted with him to support the government initiative.
"Alawite clergies are the public opinion leaders and they all want to witness this improvement. They all want to see the solution of decades' long problems. In this light, those who oppose and criticize the initiative become temporary," said Camuroglu.
Meanwhile, Alawite organizations are cautious about the effort. Chairman of the Alawite-Bektasi Federation Turan Eser claimed that AK Party is not sincere about the Initiative.
"Regulations should be based on the demand of those who are directly experience difficulties. We are totally against the idea of an Alawite initiative based on the views of AK Party," he said.
Eser alleged that government works in an effort to establish an Alawite Initiative which is in the same direction with the political Islamist stance of the state.
"Alawites are adamant to stick into their won structures that are suitable to their tradition life style, definitions and needs," he added.
Meanwhile, Cem Foundation Chairman Professor Izzettin Dogan claimed that the move of the government is related to AK Party's European Union drive.
Noting that EU Progress Report demanded Turkey to take steps to improve the conditions of Alawite population in the country, Dogan claimed that the government has a hidden agenda.
"The initiative is an operation to make Alawite people of the country live according to Sunni belief," he claimed.