Ekrem İmamoğlu's letter read in Hacıbektaş: Instructions from Özgür Özel

YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan attended the 63rd National and 37th International Hacı Bektaş Veli Commemoration Ceremonies and Culture and Arts Events held in the Hacıbektaş district of Nevşehir.

At the ceremony in Hacıbektaş Republic Square, Hacıbektaş Mayor Ali Kaim, Alevi Culture Associations Chairman Seher Şengünlü Yılmaz, İBB Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, and YENİ Party Chairman Özgür Özel delivered speeches.

During the ceremony, the message from Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is referred to as the elected mayor of Istanbul and a presidential candidate, was read by Nuri Aslan. Conveying İmamoğlu's greetings, Aslan stated that since 2019, the İBB has been in solidarity with 110 cemevis on issues such as maintenance and repair, cleaning, event support, transportation, and the distribution of Muharram food.

Aslan noted that with a decision taken by the İBB Assembly in 2024, cemevis were added to the Regulation on Relations with Religious Institutions and Communities alongside mosques, masjids, churches, and synagogues. He also reported that the work carried out on the city square, the Kadıncık Ana House, the Bektaş Efendi Tomb, and various streets and park areas in Hacıbektaş has been completed.

İMAMOĞLU'S MESSAGE READ

In the letter read by Nuri Aslan, İmamoğlu stated that he felt the sadness of not being able to be in the presence of Hacı Bektaş Veli for two years, saying, "I know that the distances between us cannot diminish our bond of hearts, our belief in truth and justice."

In his message, İmamoğlu drew attention to the emphasis of the Hacı Bektaş Veli doctrine on "love, peace, brotherhood, equality, and truth." He said, "Even though I cannot be among you physically today, my heart is in Hacıbektaş, among you, with the belief that justice will be served sooner or later and that the truth will not remain behind any wall."

In his speech, Özgür Özel said that the teachings of Hacı Bektaş Veli shed light on today. Addressing the Alevi community's demands for equal citizenship, Özel expressed his view on the status of cemevis as places of worship, stating, "If a mosque is a place of worship, then a cemevi is also a place of worship."

Criticizing the evaluation of Alevism under the heading of "culture," Özel argued that this deepens discrimination. Stating that it is more important for citizens to feel equality than for the state to claim it, Özel expressed that the Alevis' struggle for equal citizenship is a responsibility in terms of politics.

Following a reminder that some municipalities have not handed over the keys to cemevis, Özel issued a call to mayors. Stating that building a cemevi or meeting its needs does not create a right of disposal based on ownership, Özel requested that contact be established with Alevi-Bektashi institutions in places where problems are experienced.

Emphasizing unity and solidarity at the end of his speech, Özel stated that different segments of society should look out for one another. Saying, "Even if we are the victims of today, we will not be the oppressors of tomorrow," Özel stated that the political struggle would be carried out on the axis of brotherhood and justice.