ALEVIS AND THE TURKISH STATE

Abstract

The Alevi Opening, an attempt of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to "solve" the Alevi "problem" through a series of workshops between the State officials and the Alevi community was completed in 2010. The two prominent Alevi Federations, however, are not satisfied with the "Opening" and do not see the "problem" as solved. In this article, the authors provide a short description of the Alevi issue, pointing out the futility of explaining Aleviness, and map the main Alevi organizations' stances on how the State should end oppression against Alevis.