Turkish Alevism: A Distinct Faith, Not Islam

Introduction

Turkish Alevism, comprising 10-25% of Turkey’s population, is not Islam but a distinct faith with pre-Islamic roots in pantheism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. Persecuted since Ataturk’s 1925 ban, Alevis face pogroms and discrimination under Erdogan’s Islamist regime, influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood. Media, citing biased ADL/SPLC data, downplay this oppression while hyping “Islamophobia,” mirroring distortions in Middle East violence (70% minority-targeted) and Bristol, TN’s 2016 shooting. Alevism’s struggle exposes the failure of multiculturalism and Turkey’s faux secularism.

Alevism’s Distinct Roots and Beliefs

Alevism predates Islam, evolving since the 13th century through syncretism with Zoroastrianism, Tengrism, and Christianity. Kurdish Alevis emphasize nature veneration, focusing on Pir Sultan Abdal over Haji Bektash Veli. Alevis reject Islam’s five pillars—no daily prayers, no Mecca pilgrimage, no shahada—believing God (Hakk, the Truth) resides in humans, not the sky. They worship in cemevis, not mosques, with communal cem rituals featuring music, semah dance, and the saz, symbolizing unity with God. Alevi scholar Mehmet Bayrak notes closer ties to Christianity, sharing rituals like communal meals, than to Islam, despite coexisting for 1400 years and adopting superficial Islamic motifs.

Alevi Practices and Social Structure

Alevis prioritize kindness over dogma, viewing paradise and hell as earthly states, not afterlife destinations. They celebrate Hıdırellez, honoring Khidr and Elijah, and observe Hızır Orucu, a three-day fast in February. Alevism promotes gender equality—men and women pray together, and women face no conservative dress codes. The musahiplik bond, a lifelong commitment between two unrelated families, fosters solidarity, with mutual support so deep that intermarriage between their children is forbidden. Alevis interpret the Quran esoterically, believing its true meaning is a secret taught by Ali, passed down orally by dedes.

Persecution in Turkey: A History of Oppression

Since Ataturk’s 1925 ban, Alevism has been outlawed, with Sunni Islam institutionalized via the Diyanet (1924), a blatant violation of secularism. Alevis, like Kurds (many also Alevi), face pogroms—over 100 were killed in the 1978 Maras massacre by neo-fascists. The 2023 earthquakes damaged cemevis, like in Pazarcik, while mosques were prioritized for rebuilding. Erdogan’s regime intensifies oppression, with 10,000 political prisoners reported in 2023. Alevi dede Mustafa Genç notes their distinct practices—sacredness of women, unique fasting—yet fear of persecution forces many to conceal their faith, a practice (taqiya) rooted in Ottoman massacres.

Media Bias: Obscuring Alevi Struggles

Media downplay Alevi persecution, focusing on “Islamophobia” while citing skewed ADL/SPLC data. The ADL’s 2024 audit (9,354 antisemitic incidents) ignores Muslim minority oppression, and the SPLC’s 2023 report (1,225 “hate groups”) targets conservatives, not Islamic fundamentalists, despite $156 million in offshore funds. Outlets like The Guardian (2023) mislabel Alevi struggles as “sectarian,” mirroring Middle East violence distortions (70% minority-targeted) and Bristol, TN’s 2016 shooting, where media incited racial violence.

Islamic Fundamentalism: A Broader Context

Alevi oppression ties to broader Islamic fundamentalism. Turkey’s Erdogan, influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, enforces Sunni dominance (99.9% Sunni), exporting terrorism. Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabism and the Brotherhood’s violence (2023 Egypt Coptic attacks) mirror Alevi persecution, worsened by overpopulation (428%-800% growth, 1960-2016). Alevis differ from Syrian Alawites, who are Arab and closer to Twelver Shiism, while Alevis are Turkic/Kurdish, neither Sunni nor Shiite, with some scholars linking them to pre-Islamic groups like Yezidis.

Policy Failures: Western Inaction

Western efforts to stop Turkey’s persecution of Alevis and Kurds have failed—U.S. inaction under Trump and Biden mirrors leniency toward Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan. These nations, steeped in Wahhabism and the Muslim Brotherhood, fuel fundamentalism, yet face no sanctions. Media’s immigration fear-mongering (12% citizen deportation fears) distracts from the need for ideological vetting of Muslim immigrants to curb fundamentalism’s spread. Alevi candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s 2023 presidential run highlighted their struggle, yet systemic change remains elusive.

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Hamtramck: Diversity’s Backlash

Graphic of Hamtramck, Michigan, city council’s 2023 Pride flag ban decision.

Liberals, betrayed by Hamtramck’s Muslim council banning Pride flags, face diversity policy backlash. Source.

In Hamtramck, Michigan, a Muslim-led council banned Pride flags on public property in 2023, leaving liberals like Catrina Stackpoole feeling betrayed after supporting the community’s rise. This mirrors affirmative action’s flaw: promoting diversity at the expense of fairness alienates even its advocates.

Conclusion

Alevism, a distinct faith with pre-Islamic roots, is not Islam—its rejection of Islamic pillars, syncretic beliefs, and gender equality prove this. Turkey’s persecution since 1925, worsened by Erdogan’s fascist regime, exposes the failure of secularism and multiculturalism. Media propagandists, citing ADL/SPLC rubbish, obscure Alevi struggles, much like Middle East violence and Bristol, TN’s 2016 shooting. Recognize Alevism as a distinct faith, pressure Turkey with sanctions, and vet immigrants for fundamentalist ideology. Truth, not lies, ends this oppression.

Media bias and closed discussions:

References:
- 2018 Uzay Bulut: Persecution of Alevis
- 2023 USCIRF Minority Persecution
- 2023 Freedom House Turkey Report
- 2023 Pew Religious Violence
- 2023 KFF Immigrant Fears
- 2023 SPLC Hate Group Report
- 2023 OpenSecrets SPLC Finances
- 2023 France24: Alevi Struggle for Equality
- 2012 Washington Institute: Alevis vs. Alawites
- 2019 Fanack: Alevism Persecuted Subculture
- Wikipedia: Alevism (Various Entries, 2004-2025)
- Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Associates USA: What is Alevism?
- Munzur Valley: Alevis of the Munzur Valley
- 2024 Britannica: Who Are the Alevis in Turkey?
- 2018 Kurdistanica: Alevism
- Media Bias and Violence
- Middle East Chaos
- Islam vs. West