Targeting of Alevi homes triggers dispute at Turkish Parliament

Duvar English

A dispute broke out in parliament on Dec. 5 between deputies of rival political parties amid the rejection of a motion submitted by the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) to establish a commission to research the recent targeting of Alevi homes in the province of Izmir.

Alevis compose 15-20 percent of the population of Turkey and belong to a non-Sunni faith. A number of opposition politicians, including main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu come from the Alevi faith. Alevis in Turkey generally vote for either the CHP or HDP and for the most part do not support the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). 

The issue came to the agenda after news reports indicated that Alevi homes in Izmir were painted with slogans reading “Alevis get out” and “death to Alevis.” The targeting of Alevi homes with such vandalism is not an unfrequent occasion in Turkey, while Alevis have been the victims of numerous massacres during the Ottoman period and following the establishment of the Turkish republic. 

“A mark on the home of an Alevi's door is equivalent to a mark on the home of my door. Everyone person in this country thinks this way,” said AKP Group President Nacı Bostancı. 

CHP deputy Sezgin Tanrıkulu insisted that there is systematic discrimination against Alevis in Turkey, and Tanrıkulu was involved in a shouting match in parliament with the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy Olcay Kilavuz, who accused Tanrıkulu himself of separatism and discrimination for raising the issue, accusing him of exploiting Alevis for political purposes. 

The HDP's motion to establish a commission to investigate the issue was rejected by a majority of parliamentary votes.