İmamoğlu: Cemevis are the places of worship for Alevis, period

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Esenyurt Mayor Ahmet Özer came together with Alevis at the cemevi on the 6th day of the Muharram fast.

Before the prayer, İmamoğlu gave a short speech.

Stating that he was honored to be at the table and to pray together, İmamoğlu said, "We live in the most beautiful, very beautiful homeland and lands in the world. Of course, we love each other very much. We owe each other a lot. We are in a great effort to strengthen the dream of living together in brotherhood in this country, and to ensure that it never faces any trouble."

"There may be those who think that ignoring or suppressing the troubles experienced in the past means solving that problem," said İmamoğlu, continuing as follows:

"It is never such a thing, it is not right. On the contrary, it comes from understanding each other, understanding and grasping their pains and painful days. Therefore, remembering and confronting the pains is the responsibility of us all. In this sense, it is our collective responsibility to learn lessons, think, support each other, and contribute. While observing the Muharram mourning, our motto should be to stand together against the oppression of the tyrant, to think together, and to keep being one and being alive. Standing by the oppressed against the tyrant, and standing by and supporting those in need and those groaning under the oppression of the tyrant, also requires being brave."

'I WILL FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF OUR ALEVI CITIZENS'

Noting that the increase in love, respect, and tolerance is everyone's greatest desire, İmamoğlu said:

"I would like to share with you, my precious souls and fellow citizens, that I will fight like a soldier for the rights and laws of our Alevi citizens, to take steps on whatever issues need to be addressed during my tenure at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and before, and to carry this process to the point it deserves. We will show the utmost effort regarding the needs of Alevi citizens or at the point of decision-making in every part of Turkey and the world. In this sense, there is something I always say. And of course, we will not refrain from saying it.

Cemevis are the places of worship for our Alevi citizens, period. No comments should be made on this, and none can be made. In this respect, let no one have any doubt that we will take the most correct, most solid, and strongest steps regarding all issues, local or general, where the status of Cemevis as places of worship remains incomplete.

I pledge here to all souls that we are and will be by the side of our Alevi citizens, based solely on the value they add to this city and by virtue of them being the people and fellow citizens of this city, for whatever rights and laws they have. In this respect, we are by your side. We are administrators who fight for everyone to be completely equal, let alone discrimination."