Once a taboo in relations between the Turkish state and the Alevi community, government officials now visit cemevis, the places of worship of Alevism. Their goal has been to meet with dedes, the spiritual leaders of Alevis, to listen to their concerns and better understand the community’s needs. Eventually, these yearslong efforts have started to change relations once marked by mistrust. Alevis are increasingly recognizing the sincerity of the state, particularly the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), in its efforts to engage the community.
One senior dede described the process as long and gradual, saying it is not like planting tomato seedlings and expecting immediate results, but more like planting walnut trees that no storm can uproot. In the end, all the Turkish people will share the fruit.
“I describe the establishment of this presidency as a revolution – a revolution in the mindset of the Turkish state over the past 500 years,” said Hüseyin Dedekargınoğlu, a leading dede, researcher and author on Alevism, pointing to the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency, opened in 2022, by the government.
The establishment of the presidency is t
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