Turkish PM's Alevi advisor resigns
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s advisor and AKP MP Reha Camuroglu, who was also the architect of the AKP’s policy towards Turkey’s Alevi community, resigned from his post. Camuroglu, himself an Alevi, said the AKP did not keep the promises it made to Alevis.
The AKP started an a new policy towards Alevis in Turkey after July 22 elections, stepping in to meet the expectations of the Alevi community.
Alevis are the second largest religious community in Turkey, although there is no official statistics available. The Alevis' interpretation of Islam differs from Sunnis, such as they pray in assembly houses (cemevi), not in mosques.
Alevis demand equal treatment with Sunnism and to be recognized as a unique faith allowing free religious expression.
Erdogan, who gave place to some Alevi MPs in his party in the elections, wanted Camuroglu to prepare a democratization package including the rights of Alevi community.
Within the party's new policy toward the Alevis, the AKP decided to take some tangible steps, including to form an institution attached to the Prime Ministry, to represent Alevism, and to open more places of worship. Â
However the AKP has shelved its initiatives regarding the issue, not implementing its decisions.
"Mr. President, we wanted the discrimination against Alevis to end. Did it? Can I ask; how many Alevis have high level positions in the bureaucracy or are among the governors? Is there just one Alevi governor? Is that enough? What about the police commissioners? And during the AKP's six-year rule; how many Alevi investors have won tenders? Maybe there are none," Camuroglu wrote the resignation letter submitted to Erdogan.
Photo: Hasan Tufekci