Prisoner scores small victory in struggle for Alevi rights in Turkey

In a first for Turkey, the authorities in May allowed an Alevi religious elder — a dede — to visit for religious counseling an Alevi convict in prison. The move came as a boost for Alevi efforts to have their faith officially recognized. Yet, the way in which the visit took place and the authorities’ reluctance to allow further visits has caused fresh frustrations.

Under Turkish law, inmates are entitled to meet with clerics representing their religious beliefs. The Justice Ministry and the Religious Affairs Directorate (RAD) have even signed a protocol to facilitate such meetings. Muslim preachers now visit prisons on Fridays to teach inmates the Quran and prayers, hold talks on Islam and offer counsel on an individual basis.

But, as the nature of these activities suggest, only Sunni Muslims are able to benefit from them. Non-Muslim inmates are required to apply in writing to prison administrations to request meetings with their clerics. Alevi prisoners, for their part, were practically unable to see Alevi religious figures until recently.

Last year, Miktat Algul, an Alevi inmate in the southern city of Osmaniye, asked the jail administration for a meeting with an Alevi dede, citing the law under which Sunni inmates are able to meet with Sunni preachers. But instead of an Alevi dede, two Sunni preachers were sent to visit him.