Could “Cem” be practiced in mosques?

After Ali Erbaş, the President of Religious Affairs, had said that the sanctuaries of Alevi people are mosques, arguments on the status of cemevi (places of worship in Alevism) started again.

16 Mart 2018

Prof. Ali Erbaş said “Alevis and Sunnis are equal; there are no differences between them. All Alevis define themselves as Muslims. They can meet and perform their prayers but the place of worship of Muslims is mosque.

PirHüseyinGüzelgül, President of the Board of Alevi-Bektaşi Religion, responded: “We never practiced any fatwa (a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority)from any Sunni leader. We have our own pirs(meaning elder that is one of the 12 ranks of Imam in Alevism) and guides. Our place of worship is cemevi. President of Religious Affairs disrespectfully tries to polarise our society and boost hostility.”

European Court of Human Rights defined Alevi people’s not benefiting from public services as “religious discrimination” and found Turkey guilty. The Court decided that the state of Turkey approaches religions and beliefs disproportionally and discriminates Alevi people.