Earlier last month, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutglu promised to grant legal status to the 'cemevis' as the place of worship for the Alevi Muslims. However, Religious Affair Directorate President Mehmet Gormez recently expressed it as a 'red line'.
As reported by Today's Zaman, Gormez said to The Milliyet daily that they have two red lines on the demands of the Alevis. "One of them is defining Alevism as a path separate from Islam since its 1,000-year-old history refutes this claim. The second is presenting cemevis as an alternative to mosques and as the place of worship of another belief," Görmez said.
However, he further stated that the Alevis should also be free to practice their believes and rituals. Gomez is currently in Saudi Arabia for an official trip and has not elaborated more on the subject. According to Hurriyet Daily News, the Alevis cover approximately fifteen percent of the population in Turkey and have long voiced their complaints of discrimination they experience in the country dominated by the Sunni.
One of their concerns is the non-recognition of the cemevis which plays a substantial part of their belief as a place of worship. Having a legal status for the cemevis would mean that they will also be granted state funding as those of the mosques.
The legal-status for the cemevis is only one of the many government reforms that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutglu aims for the country. Although as reported by New Europe, aside from its announcement, Davugtlu did not provide further elaboration on the matter.
Davugtlu also plans improvements for the Roma community's rights, strengthening civic society groups, and increase on the minimum wage which, in many reports, could be raised to around 1,300 Turkish Lira. He also sought for the support of the opposition to create a new constitution for the country.
