Discussions continue regarding the Peace and Democratic Society Process that began with the call made by Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February. Various social groups across Turkey and Kurdistan are voicing their opinions and proposals concerning this new phase.
One of the key communities that the Turkish special warfare apparatus has particularly targeted during this process is the Alevi community. The Turkish state has employed every form of special warfare tactic to prevent the Alevi community from establishing ties with the Kurdish Freedom Movement. Through black propaganda and psychological operations, the state has attempted to influence the Alevi population and create confusion about the aims of the new process.
Celal Fırat, a MP for Istanbul from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), spoke to ANF about how the Alevi community views this new process and what their demands are.
Celal Fırat said, “The Kurdish movement has made it absolutely clear that Alevis, one of the communities that have suffered the most in this country, will not only be involved in this process, but will in fact become one of its main actors. This approach played a significant role in convincing the Alevi community and in resolving the uncertainties they had.
Since the end of last year, when a gesture of outreach was made in the Parliament, there have indeed been important developments. The call issued on 27 February, the efforts led by the DEM Party, the statements from government officials, and most recently, the act of a group of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members in Sulaymaniyah who burned their weapons, these have all sparked intense public debate. The Alevi community is also deeply engaged in these discussions, trying to understand the process.
Alevis are acting with full awareness of the historical moment they are living through. At the heart of their position lies a commitment to peace and fraternity. The fact that such a process has been initiated, and that a ‘door to peace’ has been opened, is something the Alevi community strongly identifies with and insists upon.
Naturally, the Alevi community has concerns. However, they are also ready to take responsibility in order to help this process succeed. They are prepared to step forward so that a collective will emerge, that outstanding problems can be addressed, and that a successful outcome can be reached as soon as possible.”
Alevis have serious concerns and some tried to create confusion
Celal Fırat noted that due to past experiences and the actions of the Turkish state, there is a sense of mistrust and concern within the Alevi community. He explained that, especially in the early days following the initial call, discussions frequently arose around the idea that the state would make a deal exclusively with the Kurds while excluding other social groups. However, Fırat emphasized that the statements made by the Kurdish Freedom Movement helped to prevent such divisive narratives from taking hold.
Fırat said, “There is a deep sense of mistrust and concern among both the Kurdish people and the Alevi community, stemming from past experiences and historical practices. In the initial phases after the call was made, there was a lot of public debate. There were deliberately misleading and regressive discussions suggesting that the state and the Justice and Development Party (AKP)would reach an agreement with the Kurdish movement, while ignoring the problems faced by Alevis and other communities, essentially leaving them out of the process.
The goal behind these narratives was to confuse the Alevi community, push them outside the process, and generate new doubts. During this time, many actors within the Kurdish movement, as well as our own party, the DEM Party, in which I serve as a member of parliament, have carried out extensive efforts to address and dispel these concerns within the Alevi community. For example, members of the PKK have made public statements, and PKK representatives have emphasized inclusion and unity.”
Public meetings and the Kurdish movement’s statements helped dispel doubts
Across Alevi regions, public meetings have been held, dialogues with Alevi institutions have taken place, press statements have been issued, and many other forms of outreach have been organized and these efforts are still ongoing. Meetings and discussions were held with leading institutions and key figures from the Alevi community. These conversations included the direct participation of our co-chairs, who personally engaged in open dialogue and reflection. The Kurdish movement has made important statements on these matters. One point was expressed very clearly: the aim of the process is not merely a peace agreement between Kurds and Turks, but rather the joint construction of a democratic society and a peaceful future in which all communities in this country, especially Alevis can live together equally and freely. In other words, democracy, peace, and freedom are to be established for everyone living in this land. The Kurdish movement also made another point unequivocally clear: Alevis, who are among those who have suffered the most in this country, will not only be part of the process, they will be central to it. They adopted a position of saying, ‘The problems of Alevis are the shared problems of us all.’ This approach has played a powerful role in convincing the Alevi community and in resolving many of the doubts they once had. We can now say with confidence that Kurds and Alevis understand each other more deeply than before.
It was interesting that the proposal came from Devlet Bahçeli
Celal Fırat also commented on the recent statement made by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who suggested that one Kurdish and one Alevi figure should be appointed as vice presidents. Fırat offered the following assessment: “When this statement first appeared in the media, it came as a major surprise to everyone. What made it even more striking was that the proposal came from Devlet Bahçeli himself. The Alevi community has faced many hardships in this country. Alevis are still a community that is denied, marginalized, and rendered invisible in the public sphere. So a proposal like this was shocking to many. Naturally, due to their deep-rooted distrust stemming from past experiences and also because they seek not only justice for themselves but a country where all citizens live equally and freely, Alevis responded to the proposal in different ways.
Of course, it must be said that whether someone is Turkish, Kurdish, Alevi, or otherwise, regardless of ethnic or religious identity, every citizen in this country is worthy of holding any public office. Everyone has the right to serve in any position, and no one should face discrimination. Alevis and Kurds, too, will not accept being confined solely to ‘vice-presidential’ roles. But the matter should be viewed like this: we are talking about a community whose identity is not acknowledged in the public domain, whose existence is denied. Therefore, for such a statement to come from Bahçeli is, in essence, an acknowledgment of the existence of these identities. In that sense, the proposal is both reasonable and meaningful.
What matters is building conditions based on equal citizenship
But let us be clear: some groups are aggressively latching onto this proposal and taking a negative stance toward the peace process. Claims such as “What are they offering Alevis? Nothing at all” are being circulated. In truth, it does not matter who made the proposal, what matters is what was said. The real question is this: can Alevis, with their own identity, actually become not just vice presidents, but branch managers, governors, or even civil servants in this country?
Will the country restructure itself, its constitution and its laws, accordingly? That is the critical point. What truly matters is the creation of conditions based on equal citizenship, in which everyone can exist freely and with their own identity in all areas of public life. This includes not only the vice presidency but also the presidency. That is why I find the discourse around so-called “Lebanonization” both meaningless and unnecessary. I believe such debates are actually driven by a mindset that continues to deny Alevis and other identities.
The Alevi community wants this process to result in a positive outcome and seeks the construction of a democratic society. Alevis demand a complete restructuring of everything in Turkey. What they expect from this process, above all, is the establishment of a democratic society and the achievement of peace, so that conflict, war, and suffering will never be repeated.
The construction of peace and a democratic society also entails the restructuring of the entire system in Turkey. The current constitution, laws, and state practices are grounded in a monist ideology. They deny the existence of different identities, faiths, ethnic groups, lifestyles, and democratic opposition. As we know from recent history, these communities have faced profound injustices, persecution, erasure, and even massacres. This must come to an end. We must devote our energy to building a freer and more democratic society. We must put an end to conflict, war, massacres, and suffering.
In order to make this possible, the most crucial step is to revise the constitution and laws, and to bring an end to the monist mentality embedded within them. Perhaps the simplest way to express it is this: we must create a new constitution based on equal citizenship, where everyone can live freely with their own identity. And throughout this process, the will of all diverse groups in society must be reflected.”
We are dispelling the doubts
Responding to the propaganda of certain circles who do not want the Alevi community to come together with the Kurdish Freedom Movement and who claim that this new process will be limited to Kurds and Turks, excluding Alevis, he continued: “Yes, it is true that some circles have greatly expanded these narratives and are still continuing them. But I do not believe this is a good-faith approach. Naturally, people can have doubts, concerns, and hesitations. However, the claims made by certain groups suggesting that Alevis are being left out of the process were not made out of concern. They were part of deliberate and malicious efforts to exclude Alevis.
These groups carried out serious campaigns aimed at confusing and manipulating the Alevi community and they continue to do so. But if you were to ask them, ‘What do you want for Alevis?’ they would not offer anything new. They would simply say, ‘Just stay the way you are, what more do you want?’
Of course, we are working very actively on this issue. In every setting, under every condition, through all of our institutions and with every Alevi comrade, we are directly conveying the details of this process and addressing the concerns. And Alevis are indeed being convinced, because at the end of this process, Alevis stand to be among its greatest beneficiaries.”
The commission must inspire public trust
Celal Fırat stated that the Alevi community has expectations from the parliamentary commission recently established, emphasizing that the most fundamental demand is for the commission to inspire confidence among the people. He continued: “One key component of this process is, of course, the commission that has been established in Parliament. This commission will begin its work soon. All segments of society and certainly the Alevi community, have serious expectations from it. The fact that this work is being carried out on the parliamentary floor, and that it involves many political circles, including the ruling party, the main opposition, and numerous other parties represented in Parliament is extremely important in terms of social legitimacy and public confidence.
This commission is expected to conduct important work and bring its findings to the parliamentary agenda. The Alevi community faces many problems, chief among them being denial and invisibility. Therefore, discussions held within this commission must also include the rights of Alevis, especially in the context of drafting a new constitution and legal reforms based on equal citizenship.
In short, what the Alevi community expects from this commission is a framework grounded in law, one that is inclusive and representative of society as a whole, and one that addresses and responds to the specific expectations and demands of the Alevis.”