Alevi associations react to the definition of cemevis as 'cultural facilities': A policy of denial

Alevi institutions announced that they reject the regulation, stating that the decision violates equal citizenship and freedom of belief. 

In a joint statement, the Alevi Bektashi Federation, the European Alevi Unions Confederation, the Turkey Alevi Federation, the Hacı Bektaş Veli Anatolian Culture Foundation, the Alevi Culture Associations, the Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association, and the Australian Alevi Bektashi Federation noted that the regulation is "a new declaration of the policy of denial."

"Counting mosques as 'places of worship' and cemevis as 'cultural facilities' is a constitutional crime"

Uğur Kalkan, a former municipal council member for the CHP in Şahinbey Municipality, criticized the change, saying, "This new legend published in the Official Gazette is a clear document of discrimination. While Article 10 of the Constitution speaks of 'equality before the law' and Article 24 guarantees 'freedom of belief,' counting mosques as 'places of worship' and cemevis as 'cultural facilities' is a constitutional crime. A cemevi is not a hobby space or an exhibition hall; it is the center of a faith. Coding one faith as 'worship' and the other as 'cultural activity' is to disregard the principle of equal citizenship. We do not want a definition; we want recognition!"

Joint statement from Alevi associations

The following statements were included in the joint declaration by the Alevi Bektashi Federation, the European Alevi Unions Confederation, the Turkey Alevi Federation, the Hacı Bektaş Veli Anatolian Culture Foundation, the Alevi Culture Associations, the Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association, and the Australian Alevi Bektashi Federation:

"The 'Regulation on Amendments to the Regulation on the Preparation of Spatial Plans' from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change was published in the Official Gazette dated January 22, 2026, and numbered 33145.

This regulation is not a solution to the demands that the Alevi community has been voicing for years; on the contrary, it is a new declaration of the policy of denial!

Defining cemevis under the heading of 'Cultural Facility Area' in zoning legislation is the clearest indicator that the AKP and the Palace are trying to destroy the Alevi faith and do not define cemevis as places of worship!

For Alevis, a Cemevi is not a 'cultural center,' it is a place of worship!

This issue cannot be solved with regulations or changes in wording.

This regulation, which consciously avoids placing cemevis as an equal place of worship alongside mosques, churches, and synagogues, clearly violates the principle of equal citizenship.

While the state circulates the rhetoric of an 'Opening for Alevis' on one hand, and establishes the Alevi Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency claiming they will solve the problems of cemevis, on the other hand, it avoids explicitly stating the places of worship of Alevis in the laws.

This has once again shown that the concern of the AKP Government and the Palace is not to fulfill the demands of Alevis, but to ignore our faith.

It has been registered that this established structure is dysfunctional and that its purpose of establishment serves the assimilation of our faith.

This hypocritical approach cannot be hidden and is unacceptable.

As Alevi Institutions, we state clearly: The status of cemevis must not be determined by regulations, but must be added to the Constitution as places of worship on the basis of freedom of belief and equal citizenship.

The Alevi faith is one of the fundamental faiths of this country, and this reality must be legally accepted sooner or later.

We reject this regulation. No 'regulation' that ignores the will of the Alevi community and does not recognize our faith is legitimate in our eyes."

News Source: 12punto