Τhe Αlevis ''open up'' of Erdogan failed

Date: 02.09.2010 | 11:38
Τhe Αlevis ''open up'' of Erdogan failed
Preparation for a appeal to the ECHR
Nikos Stelgia
www.kathimerini.com.cy

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A year ago the leadership of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey launched a series of "open up" (açılım) in various fields.The leading figures of the AKP spoke for radical review of policy initiatives on issues such as relations between Turkey and Armenia, Kurdistan, Cyprus and the relations of the Turkish state with one of the largest religious communities in the country that of Alevis. A year after the pompous statements of the leadership of the party, the AKP openings remain suspended and Alevides preparing to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The Alevi community, which expresses opposition to the involvement of the secular state to the religious life of the country and the imposition of Sunni – hanefi doctrine of Islam, announced yesterday that it has decided to appeal to the ECHR in order to ensure equal treatment by the Turkish state of all religious beliefs.

The president of the "Cem Vakfı" and the Federation of Associations of Alevis Izetin Doğan said that "the Constitution provides that religious services are public services. In fact, public services should be provided equally to every citizen. Now in Turkey live 25 - 30 million Alevis and the state ignores their presence. The state provides religious services with personnel who profess conservative values. The Turkish state has never maintained an equal distance to its citizens. "

Blow to the AKP days before of the referendum

In yesterday's positions, Mr. Dogan made it clear that Alevis of Turkey are determined to make their case in ECHR. He stressed that this action will take place before the referendum on September 12. Mr. Dogan explained that this decision was taken based on the fact that the constitutional amendment promoted by the AKP makes difficult to appeal to the ECHR.

Sounding the alarm of a totalitarian regime in future

Yesterday, Mr Dogan, among others mentioned to the forthcoming referendum on constitutional changes. He noted that the amendment promotes the AKP opens the way for the abolition of judicial independence and the establishment of a totalitarian regime in Turkey.

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