'Gov’t determined to help out Alevis’
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hurriyet Daily News
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Haziran 04, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Alevi organizations say the government has not met their expectations and the workshop will be only an opportunity to reiterate their demands. 'Alevis do, however, remain hopeful and see this as a starting point'.
The government is resolved to solve the problems of the Alevi community in Turkey, said State Minister Faruk Çelik at an Alevi Workshop in Ankara yesterday. Â
"The workshop is a historical one that gives responsibility to all sides [for a solution to the Alevi community’s problems]. We want to solve our [Alevi] citizens’ problems and overcome the challenges that stand as barriers before social peace by sticking to the principles of the democratic, secular and social rule of law via this meeting," Çelik said.
The Alevi Workshop is the first major event held by the government to identify the requirements of the Alevi community in Turkey and find a collective solution to the Alevis’ problems. Representatives from 35 Alevi organizations also attended the meeting.
The problems, which have a historical background, have remained unresolved because of prejudices and neglect, Çelki said. "Alevis have problems, but we have a chance to solve these problems when the problems are taken into consideration from the perspective of human rights and democracy," Çelik said.
"We are ready to listen to the problems of the Alevi community. We won’t only listen but we will also engage in an approach based on empathy, eliminating prejudices."
'Hopes fade’
Meanwhile, Ali Balkız, the chairman of the Alevi Bektashi Federation said: "So far we haven’t been satisfied with the process for solutions, but we want a happy end with this event. The process so far has swept away our hopes, but we will continue to voice our expectations."
He said they would reiterate their demands in the meeting. The Alevis want the Religious Affairs Directorate disbanded, cemevis (Alevi houses of worship) be given legal status, mandatory religious education be halted and the Madımak hotel to be turned into a museum. No mosque should also be built in Alevi villages, according to them. Professor İzzettin Doğan, chairman of the Cem Foundation, said the meeting was solely an informative meeting.
He said they have conveyed the problems of Alevi community to the ruling parties for 20 years but they couldn’t get any fruitful results. The meeting would only create a ground to reiterate the problems of the Alevi community, a liberal section of the Islamic faith, who make up 25 million in Turkey. Alevi Cultural Associations' chairman Tekin Özdil, meanwhile, said, "Our problems will only be heard in two sessions. There is no decision or policy that says this meeting should be repeated if no end is put to the problems," he said. "This meeting is only a ’beginning.’"
"The workshop is a historical one that gives responsibility to all sides [for a solution to the Alevi community’s problems]. We want to solve our [Alevi] citizens’ problems and overcome the challenges that stand as barriers before social peace by sticking to the principles of the democratic, secular and social rule of law via this meeting," Çelik said.
The Alevi Workshop is the first major event held by the government to identify the requirements of the Alevi community in Turkey and find a collective solution to the Alevis’ problems. Representatives from 35 Alevi organizations also attended the meeting.
The problems, which have a historical background, have remained unresolved because of prejudices and neglect, Çelki said. "Alevis have problems, but we have a chance to solve these problems when the problems are taken into consideration from the perspective of human rights and democracy," Çelik said.
"We are ready to listen to the problems of the Alevi community. We won’t only listen but we will also engage in an approach based on empathy, eliminating prejudices."
'Hopes fade’
Meanwhile, Ali Balkız, the chairman of the Alevi Bektashi Federation said: "So far we haven’t been satisfied with the process for solutions, but we want a happy end with this event. The process so far has swept away our hopes, but we will continue to voice our expectations."
He said they would reiterate their demands in the meeting. The Alevis want the Religious Affairs Directorate disbanded, cemevis (Alevi houses of worship) be given legal status, mandatory religious education be halted and the Madımak hotel to be turned into a museum. No mosque should also be built in Alevi villages, according to them. Professor İzzettin Doğan, chairman of the Cem Foundation, said the meeting was solely an informative meeting.
He said they have conveyed the problems of Alevi community to the ruling parties for 20 years but they couldn’t get any fruitful results. The meeting would only create a ground to reiterate the problems of the Alevi community, a liberal section of the Islamic faith, who make up 25 million in Turkey. Alevi Cultural Associations' chairman Tekin Özdil, meanwhile, said, "Our problems will only be heard in two sessions. There is no decision or policy that says this meeting should be repeated if no end is put to the problems," he said. "This meeting is only a ’beginning.’"