Reactions continue regarding the decision to grant the usage rights of the Kıraç Cemevi in Istanbul's Esenyurt district to the Cem Foundation and to determine the management within this scope. Upon reports that an attempt would be made to evict the cemevi on Wednesday, October 21, at 10:00 AM, citizens gathered in front of the cemevi in the evening hours.
Neighborhood residents and cemevi members protesting the eviction decision began a march. While numerous riot police and water cannon vehicles (TOMA) were dispatched to the vicinity of the cemevi, police teams took security measures around the place of worship.
Cemevi members and local residents reacted to the eviction attempt, stating that the cemevi exists through the "labor of the people." Kıraç Cemevi President Evren Kaya stated that the problems being experienced should not be attributed to places of worship.
Kıraç Cemevi belongs to the people; it is an institution that has served the public for 24-25 years, and the place of the people must remain with the people. The cemevi is a place of worship; it is our place, the place of Alevi souls. This is an independent cemevi and it has existed through the labor of the people; we will absolutely not hand it over.
Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) Chairman Erkan Baş also supported the protest. In a post, the TİP Esenyurt organization stated, "Kıraç Cemevi belongs to the people and will remain with the people," and shared the message, "We will not give this cemevi, which we built with our own labor, to anyone."
The debate regarding Kıraç Cemevi had previously come to the agenda. Citizens had reacted to the allocation decision made by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change in favor of the Cem Foundation on August 31, 2026.
News Source: 12punto
