DAILY SABAH -- Seeking to Boost Image in the Shia World, ErdoΔan Says Alevi Places of Worship to Be Recognized as Mosques by Directorate of Religious Affairs. "Our people do not know Sunni and Shia. If you fear Allah, you are called a Muslim"
[July/August 2021]
(ANKARA) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip ErdoΔan has recently made landmark moves to open up religious freedoms in Turkey. Synergizing the changes in policy with attacks on the staunch laicite of the early Republican period of the country's history in order to avoid tarnishing his relationship as a pious Muslim, ErdoΔan visited the President of Religious Affairs on Friday, bringing back major news.
"Some comments I have made in the past have been twisted. This upsets me. I said 'If Alevism is loving Hazrat Ali, then there is no one more Alevi than me. But if Alevism is a religion, than I am not among them."
"Alevis in Turkey are Muslims just like us. I was underlining that they are not a separate religion. It is true they have different beliefs and practices. But it is enough for them to believe in the Shahada."
"Our people do not know Sunni and Shia. If you fear Allah, you are called a Muslim."
The President continued on, recounting an interaction with a village "Muhtar" (like a mayor I guess).
"An Alevi muhtar from Sivas came and spoke with me at a reception. He asked me, dear President, many in my village says that Recep Tayyip ErdoΔan does not support Alevis. I asked him: 'Do you believe in the Qur'an? Do you believe in the last prophet? Okay then I support you.'"
Turkey's Alevis have long alleged discrimination. Even with Turkey's staunchly secular system, albeit it has eroded over the years, Alevis do not benefit from the same assistance afforded to more traditional Sunni and Shia groups and have even at times been exposed to violence amidst fighting between left and right groups during the Cold War. Turkey's Alevis tend to lean left and support the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
Their chief complaint? Alevi places of worship, known as 'Cemevleri' are not considered to be so by the Directorate of Religious Affairs and thus do not receive state funding.
Amidst violence in Shia-majority Iran and looking to steal from the CHP's Alevi voter base, ErdoΔan announced today that the Directorate of Religious Affairs has been ordered to classify Alevi "Cemevi"s as Shia Mosques.
ErdoΔan closed his statements by saying that he hopes the move will cause a revival in Al
... keep reading on reddit β‘These muslims to me are the worse, I noticed how openly homophobic they are on social media, and treating the arab world like their summer home, always shaming us for trying to be more free and liberated, whenever we try something new we get shunned by french muslims. Whenever they come here, they always look more serious than other muslims in here looking grumpy and unsatisfied all the time. Also they take wives from here promising them the "european dream", but they all get treated like medieval women, no talking, wearing nikab, etc. My question is why are they more agressive ? What is the main reason for that ?
I have been to muslim countries. The only thing people seem to be doing in their leisure time is sitting inside, watching tv and maybe smoke.
