Document #1096584
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
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.
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)
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)