Alevis Vs. Alawites In Turkey: From The General To The Specific (Based On Field Studies In The Town Of Hacibektaş And Hatay Province)

In view of its geographical location and the ethnic, religious and cultural heterogeneity of its population, modern Turkey is of special interest both to orientalists and to a wide range of people interested in global political and social affairs. In this context, the subject of Turkish Alevism and Turkish Alevis has acquired particular relevance in recent years. However, Turkey’s Alevis are often confused with the ‘Alawites (Nusayrîs) of Syria, leading to a gross distortion of the concept of Turkish Alevism. The ‘Alawites (Nusayrîs) are concentrated mainly in Syria, where they constitute around 12% of the country’s population, though there is a small community of approximately 350,000 people in Turkey. They live predominantly in the southern provinces of Hatay, Adana and Mersin, and are ethnic Arabs. This paper is based on the findings of field studies carried out in the town of Hacıbektaş and in Hatay province, and aims to highlight the regional aspects of the Alevi and ‘Alawite (Nusayrî) communities in Turkey (the ‘Alawites of Syria are not reviewed here). The focus is on the characteristics of the two faiths, their forms of worship and the traditions of social organization within the two communities. The similarities between the two faiths are summarized and their distinctive features are highlighted.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Turkey

Alevis Vs. Alawites In Turkey: From The General To The Specific (Based On Field Studies In The Town Of Hacibektaş And Hatay Province)

In view of its geographical location and the ethnic, religious and cultural heterogeneity of its population, modern Turkey is of special interest both to orientalists and to a wide range of people interested in global political and social affairs. In this context, the subject of Turkish Alevism and Turkish Alevis has acquired particular relevance in recent years. However, Turkey’s Alevis are often confused with the ‘Alawites (Nusayrîs) of Syria, leading to a gross distortion of the concept of Turkish Alevism. The ‘Alawites (Nusayrîs) are concentrated mainly in Syria, where they constitute around 12% of the country’s population, though there is a small community of approximately 350,000 people in Turkey. They live predominantly in the southern provinces of Hatay, Adana and Mersin, and are ethnic Arabs. This paper is based on the findings of field studies carried out in the town of Hacıbektaş and in Hatay province and aims to highlight the regional aspects of the Alevi and ‘Alawite (Nusayrî) communities in Turkey (the ‘Alawites of Syria are not reviewed here). The focus is on the characteristics of the two faiths, their forms of worship and the traditions of social organization within the two communities. The similarities between the two faiths are summarized and their distinctive features are highlighted.

Keywords:

Alevis, Alawites (Nusayrîs), Islam, Shiism, Sufism Turkey,

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