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Syrian Alawites hope for change in Turkey

Syrian Alawite refugees face discrimination and hardship in Turkey.
A Syrian Alawite refugee woman sits with her children in a tent at the courtyard of Pirsultan Abdal Cemevi in Istanbul October 11, 2013. As Syria's conflict takes on an increasingly sectarian dimension, a growing number of those fleeing to Turkey are shunning the refugee camps on its southern border and venturing instead to its major cities, as far from the war as possible. Picture taken October 11, 2013.    REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: SOCIETY IMMIGRATION POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) - RTX14L6X
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Turkish politics is experiencing a change as Ashoura — the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar — approaches (Nov. 14). On Nov. 10, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu dressed in black to reflect the mourning period of Ashoura when visiting Najaf and Karbala — considered holy cities in Shiite Islam — and Baghdad. He also paid a visit to the shrine of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. Davutoglu said, “Those who claim we are pro-Sunni should see me here now.” 

On Nov. 11, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a Muharram iftar (breaking of the fast for Alevis) — a ritual of public display that many prominent Alevis oppose. Erdogan's words — “My unborn grandson will be named Ali,” referring to Imam Ali, the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law — created uproar in social media. Erdogan’s advisers have been tweeting about Karbala, Imam Ali and Imam Hussein and mourning on the occasion of Ashoura over the last couple of days as well. We see a deep struggle within the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to mend bridges with “neighbors” and “Muslims other than Sunnis” and reset its Middle East policies.

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