Alevi

The Alevi are a religious minority group in Turkey, making up an estimated 10 to 20 percent of the population. While they identify as Muslim and revere the Qurʾān, their practices differ from mainstream Islam. For instance, they do not perform ritual ablution before prayers or fast during Ramadan.1

Alevi beliefs incorporate elements of classical Sufism and Shiʿi Islam. They venerate Ali alongside Muhammad as a supreme spiritual guide and believe in the inner spiritual meaning of practices over outward symbols. Dance, known as semah, is a significant part of their worship.1

Historically, Alevis have faced suppression, partly due to their association with the Safavid empire, which was in competition with the Ottoman Empire. This led to suspicion and prejudice from their Ottoman rulers, who enforced Sunni orthodoxy.1

The Alawites, a distinct esoteric sect of Islam primarily found in Syria, also hold Ali in high regard and interpret Islamic pillars symbolically. While some Alawites have been recognized as Shiʿi, this has been a subject of debate. The Alawite sect gained political dominance in Syria under the Assad family.2