Closure Trial for Alevi Association
The first hearing of the closure trial against the Çankaya Cem House Founding Association is held today in Ankara. The Ankara Governorship demands the closure because of the association's refusal to remove articles form the statutes that recognize Cem houses as places of worship.
The Çankaya Cem House Founding Association is facing a closure trial because they did not withdraw articles from their statutes that recognized Cem houses as places of worship. Cem houses are Alevi houses of assemblage. The first hearing is held today (10 February) before the Ankara 16th Civil Court of First Instance.
Fevzi Gümüş, President of the Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association, and lawyer Ali Yıldırım, Head of the Alevi Research Centre, made a joint statement to support the Çankaya Cem House Founding Association. They declared, "The Alevi expect as much respect for their beliefs as they demonstrate for other beliefs. This is the most natural thing!"
From Department of Religious Affairs via the ministry to court
The dispute as subject of the legal proceedings was initiated by a writ (no. 1773) sent by the Department of Religious Affairs to the Ministry of the Interior on 17 December 2004. It conveyed the opinion that "Shiism as a sub-interpretation of Islam will not have separate places of worship apart from the 'mosques and prayer rooms' used as common places of worship. For the aforementioned reasons, it was not possible to evaluate Cem houses and similar places as places of worship".
The Directorate of the Associations Office within the Ministry of the Interior replied to the Ankara Governorship on 30 March 2005 (writ no. 1277). The Çankaya Cem Houses Founding Association was requested to remove the articles that recognized cem houses as places of worship from their statutes.
The Ankara Governorship forwarded the ministry's evaluation to the foundation three times and demanded to withdraw the related articles 2 and 4 from the statutes.
The association rejected the request and answered to the governorship that "Cem houses were accepted as places of worship in the common opinion of the Alevi community. The provisions in the statutes are not going to be changed". Thereupon, the issue was taken to court.
The Governorship applied to the Ankara Public Chief Prosecution for the closure of the Çankaya Cem House Founding Association. (EÖ/VK)
- BDP Claims Equal Status for Alevi 'Cem' Houses and Mosques[21 January 2010]
- Local Municipality Recognizes Alevite Temple As Place of Worship [04 September 2008]
- Alevis To The Rescue Of Their Cem House[29 August 2008]
- "Council of State's Verdict is a Limitation to Press Freedom” [23 May 2012]
- Students Setting Up Union For Rights [15 November 2006]
- Small Earthquake in Marmara Sea [28 April 2009]
- 4TH JUDICIAL REFORM PACKAGE: Repealing the Statute of Limitations for Torture [24 May 2012]
- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT 2012: “Promised Legal Reforms did not Occur in Turkey” [25 May 2012]
Independent Communication NetworkIndependent Communication Network comprises more than internet news website bianet.org. It is a continuously unfolding network since 1997 and embraces "Training Drives" for journalists and communication students and NGOs; handbook series, "Radio Programs" for the local media, conferences, forums, international exchange programs.
IPS Communication Foundation (BİA)IPS Communication Foundation is the implementing body for the BIA &bianet.org. Founded in 1993 by four journalists and one human rights activists, has implemented many projects including a BİA, BİA2 and BİA3.
BİA LibraryBİA Library comprises of handbooks series and guides and researches which systemize the theoretical and informative contributions realized during the implementation of programs within the BİA projects. Some of the 15 publications are in English and accessible via bianet.org.
Contact us
You can reach IPS Communication Foundation directors, BİA project coordination, bianet.org editorial board via telephone, fax, e-mail and mail from everywhere on the globe, dispatch information and/or documents and request meetings.
- Ana Sayfa|
- Yazarlar|
- Arşiv-Arama|
- Bilgi-Belge|
- Çocuk Sitesi|
- BİAMag|
- Kadının Penceresi|
- News in English|
- Haber Listesi|
- Galeriler|
- Linkler|
- Künye|
- BİA Hakkında
This website is published within the framework of "Journalism for Rights, Rights for Journalists" -dubbed as BİA3 - project implemented by the IPS Communication Foundation with the financial assistance of the Swedish International development Agency (SIDA). The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of IPS Communication Foundation and under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the EU and SIDA and IFEX.
