Alevi associations hold secularism rally in Kadıköy

Citizens gathered in Istanbul's Kadıköy district at İskele Square for the "secular education, humane living, democratic Turkey" rally. In addition to union representatives, CHP Istanbul Provincial Chair Özgür Çelik and HEDEP Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları also attended the rally.

MANY PARTIES ATTENDED THE RALLY

Political parties, democratic mass organizations, women's organizations, and unions participated in the rally. Slogans such as "We will not be the state's Alevis," "Alevis exist, Alevism is a right," and "Long live the brotherhood of peoples" were frequently chanted. Participants expressed their opposition to the ÇEDES project, the dismissal of the Sivas Massacre case, and the establishment of the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency.

"WE DECLARE ONCE AGAIN THAT WE WILL NOT SURRENDER TO DARKNESS"

Seher Şengünlü, General President of the Alevi Culture Associations, and Cuma Erçe of the Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association read the joint press statement on behalf of the organizing institutions. Stating that they are collectively protesting against those who govern the country and condemn millions to hunger, misery, and unemployment, as well as those who polarize society, divide peoples, deny rights, and promote assimilation, Şengünlü said, "As those marginalized due to their beliefs, identities, sexual orientations, and political views, we do not bow to the pressures of the AKP/MHP government and the monist and denialist political power, and we declare once again that we will not surrender to darkness."

"WE STAND WITH THE OPPRESSED AND AGAINST THE OPPRESSOR"

Expressing that there is no other choice but to struggle together against the mentality that drags the country into darkness, Erçe said, "The burden and pain of the war continuing between imperialism-backed Israeli Zionism and the reactionary and sharia-advocating Hamas are being borne by the poor and oppressed Palestinian people. The honorable freedom struggle of the Palestinian people has been overshadowed by these two reactionary forces. We Alevis, wherever we are in the world, stand with the oppressed and against the oppressor, without any ifs or buts."

"WE CONTINUE TO SAY NO TO WAR, PEACE NOW"

Addressing those who continue bilateral agreements with Israel, Erçe said, "Those who commit war crimes in Syria cannot call for peace in the Middle East. We Alevis do not adopt a hypocritical stance of applauding for Syria while mourning for Gaza. We continue to say no to war, peace now."

"APPOINTING TRUSTEES TO THE TURKISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION IS A COUP-LIKE ACT"

Pointing out that the government appoints trustees to municipalities and keeps members of parliament in prison, Şengünlü made the following statements:

"The mentality that allowed the statute of limitations to expire in the Madımak case, which is among the crimes against humanity, and released the murderers of our 33 souls, is the same mentality that releases the murderer of our brother Hrant Dink, misogynists, child abusers, mafia leaders, and drug barons, while keeping revolutionaries, socialists, intellectuals, and journalists in prison under heavy isolation conditions in an unjust and unlawful manner. Not recognizing the decisions of the Constitutional Court, even failing to comply with the anti-democratic 1982 Constitution, and wagging fingers at legal professionals is a coup-like act. Appointing a trustee to the Turkish Medical Association is a coup-like act."

"WE WILL NOT BE THE STATE'S ALEVIS"

Erçe drew attention to the government's plundering of the environment and the changes made to the urban transformation law, inviting everyone to protect their living spaces. He reiterated that they would not allow fascism and darkness to pass in the face of sexist and sharia-based policies pursued through projects like ÇEDES and similar initiatives. Erçe stated that the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency has become a base for assimilation and that they do not recognize this presidency, saying, "We will not be the state's Alevis." He conveyed that they do not accept assimilationist policies or the reactionary, racist, monist, and religious education system, and that they will not give up the struggle for secular, democratic, scientific, free, and mother-tongue education.

"WE WILL NOT BOW TO TYRANNY, WE WILL NOT SUBMIT TO THE OPPRESSOR"

Listing their demands—the abolition of compulsory religious classes, the removal of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, the handover of dervish lodges, foundations, and places of worship to Alevis, the transformation of the Madımak Hotel into a museum of shame, confronting all massacres, the constitutional guarantee of Cemevis and their faith, and the dissolution of the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency—Şengünlü reiterated the demand for equal citizenship rights. Finally, Erçe said:

"We shout out from here once again. We will not bow to tyranny, we will not submit to the oppressor. We will not give up our struggle for rights and truth, nor our ideal of a secular, democratic republic. As all peoples who have been marginalized in the first century of the Republic, we will come together, struggle shoulder to shoulder, and liberate this country together. We declare this once again in this square today. Salvation is in our own hands. There is no salvation alone; either all together, or none of us."