Visiting with Alevis in Istanbul (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
Visiting an Alevi gathering in Turkey (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
This week-end, tens of thousands of Alevis in Turkey protested for greater religious and political freedoms in Kadikoy, Istanbul–the neighborhood where I set up shop last year to explore the Asian side of the city.
Though the Alevis have long been loyal supporters of Turkey’s secular state, their faith and religious practices, which are closely related to Sufism and Anatolian folk culture, are still not recognized by the state.
When I had the opportunity last year to spend sometime with Alevis in Istanbul, I realized how much more I needed to learn about the centrality of their reverence for Imam Ali and the sacred meaning behind the gestures in their spiritual dances.
Because the Alevis usually receive very little attention in international news outlets, many people have never even heard of their community–not to mention their unique beliefs and practices. After bringing tens of thousands of supporters yesterday onto the streets, it remains to be seen if they will continue receiving increased media attention–in the wake of their recent political mobilization in Istanbul…
