A 12 March 2000 BBC news report describes the Gazi district as "largely inhabited by Alawite Muslims." An 14 February 1997 article appearing in the Turkish Daily News refers to Alevi protests in Istanbul as occurring in the "predominantly Alevi populated neighborhoods" of Okmeydani, Nurtepe, Ornektepe and Maltepe-Gulsuyu.

No other reference to predominately Alevi districts in Istanbul could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

BBC. 12 March 2000. "Turkish Police Arrest 350 Protesters." http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_675000/675243.stm [Accessed 23 August 2001]

Turkish Daily News. 14 February 1997. "'Separatist' and ' a Sworn Enemy of Alevis.'" http://www.turkishdailynews.com/old_edition/02_14_97/dom.htm [Accessed 24 August 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Jane's Intelligence Review

The Middle East

Middle East Report

Resource Centre. Country File December 2000-January 2001

Internet sites, including:

BBC

CNN

Hacettepe Institute of Population Studies

International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

International Relations and Security Network

Kurdish Observer

United Nations Development Fund

United Nations Information Centre, Turkey

United Nations News Centre

World News Connection