Who are the Alevi? Why is the Turkish government so wary of them?

  This is an Alevi prayer ceremony in Istanbul, this spring.  The Alevi - a large religious minority - are in conflict with the government over compulsory religious education.  the ruling and strongly Islamic AK party, Reuters report,   lump them together with Sunni Muslims and teach them the mandatory RE curriculum on how to pray, fasts, etc. But Alevis are significantly different,  and a mother took the ministry to court to win permission to pull her son out of the classes and to have Alevis recognized in the curriculum.  The case was won, but the government claims the constitution prevents them doing anything.
    Alevis are fascinating.  Their worship is full of dance and music;  men and women pray side by side, as equals.  Strong principles, described in this interesting blog, include tolerance and work "The greatest act of worship is to work"" echoes St Benedict's "laborare est orare".  Mainstream Muslims express views, says the correspondent,  ranging from
 
“An Alevi is a filthy, immoral person who is so far from religion that he must first become a Christian before he can become a Muslim.”
to
“Alevism is the original, true essence of Islam.”
to
“Alevism is an example of the classic Marxist struggle by an oppressed minority.”
or
“Alevism is a mixture of the best elements of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Manichaeism, Zoroastrianism, Shamanism, and 20th century humanism.”

Comments

[mcbay]

Same old story - one man's passionately held religious belief is another man's vile heresy. Brings to mind the Mark Twain quote:

"Man is the only animal that loves his neighbour as himself but will cut his throat if his theology isn't straight."

If it's not the Alevi in the firing line from the Islamic mainstream it's the Ahmadi.