Müsavat Dervişoğlu warns Diyanet on 'Alevi-Bektashi hearths': They must review their approach

İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu stated, "I am warning the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) from here: They must urgently review their approach to the Alevi-Bektashi hearths, which have always remained loyally committed to the Republic and have personally helped lay its foundations."

"Based on this, it is also absolutely unacceptable for Alevism to be treated as if it were merely a folkloric or cultural activity. While making institutional arrangements, the government must refrain from causing more harm than good, or acting just for the sake of appearances," he said.

Stating that they would not allow anyone to extinguish the fire of the Alevi-Bektashi hearths, Dervişoğlu used the following expressions:

"We will not let anyone look down upon or belittle these hearths that have healed Anatolia with their wisdom. It is essential that the justified grievances that have persisted for so many years finally reach a resolution. The fact that these voices, whose counsel we need most, are crying out today is a wound opened to all of us, to this homeland, to Anatolia, and to our traditions. The duty of those who govern the state toward both humanity and their citizens is clear. Questioning beliefs, passing judgment on whether they 'exist or not'—heaven forbid—and especially making such an inherent part of the Turkish existence, a halo of faith and wisdom, restless and unhappy, is unacceptable.

The issue of Cemevis in Turkey must finally be resolved. It is not anyone's place to comment on the prayers of the living or the peace of the deceased. If Turkey is a secular state, the requirements of that secularism are clear. What falls to the Presidency of Religious Affairs is to coordinate religious affairs in the same manner.

'Coordination' does not mean directing, manipulating, or certainly not lecturing. 'They must urgently review their approach to the Alevi-Bektashi hearths, which have always remained loyally committed to the Republic and have personally helped lay its foundations,' I warn the Presidency of Religious Affairs from here. Based on this, it is also absolutely unacceptable for Alevism to be treated as if it were merely a folkloric or cultural activity. While making institutional arrangements, the government must refrain from causing more harm than good, or acting just for the sake of appearances."