IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor): „Information on whether Alevite (Alawite) places of worship, cemevis, are private homes also used for religious purposes or they are places of worship only [TUR21519.E]“, Dokument #1096584

Information on whether Alevite (Alawite) places of worship, cemevis, are private homes also used for religious purposes or they are places of worship only [TUR21519.E]

The sources consulted by the DIRB do not describe Alevite places of worship as private homes, but as places of worship where religious ceremonies are held, and/or used as charity homes.

According to The Financial Times,

Alevis do not worship in mosques but in cemevis or community houses, where food and wine are passed around, and members of the congregation speak in turn, rather as in a Quaker meeting, and there is dancing (21 May 1992).

A Reuters report, which refers to "Alevi calls for government aid to build places of worship," calls Alevite places of worship "congregation houses" (16 Aug. 1995). Another Reuters article states that "Alawites pray in their own places of worship called 'cemevi,' or gathering houses" (15 Mar. 1995).
Reporting on the anti-Alevi orientation of Istanbul's mayor, the attached AP article refers to an attempt at demolishing an Alevite mosque (16 Mar. 1995). Another AP report maintains that the Alevis have been at odds with Istanbul's

Sunni-held mayorship for its attempt to close down Alawite mosques, also used as charity homes (14 Mar. 1995).

Finally, the attached BBC article reports on an Alevite "place of worship recently pulled down" by the Istanbul municipality (14 Sept. 1994).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

The Associated Press (AP). 16 March 1995. PM Cycle. Zeynep Alemdar. "Sectarian Differences Aggravate Turkey's Troubles." (NEXIS)

_____. 14 March 1995. Zeynep Alemdar. "Police Cordon Off Protesters, Demonstrations Continue." (NEXIS)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 14 September 1994. "Internal Affairs; Government Criticizes Istanbul Mayor for Sectarian Discrimination." (NEXIS)

The Financial Times [London]. 21 May 1992. David Barchard. "Survey of Turkey." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 16 August 1995. BC Cycle. Alistair Bell. "Thousands of Turks on Liberal Moslem Pilgrimage." (NEXIS)

_____. 15 March 1995. BC Cycle. "Who Are Turkey's Moslem Alawites?" (NEXIS)