“
Alevi
”.
Captioned with this simple word, Kemal Kilicdaroglu's video on Twitter has generated some 30 million views since April 19.
Facing the camera, the presidential candidate in Turkey, who is at the top of the polls, claims to belong to the belief of Alevism.
"
I think it's time to discuss with you a very particular, very sensitive subject
", begins the main opponent of the current President Erdogan.
“
I am Alevi, I am a sincere Muslim
”.
These remarks had the effect of a bomb, at the height of the taboo that this community represents in Turkey.
Religion for some, Muslim heresy for others, philosophy or sect for still others, the Alevis are nonetheless the largest religious minority in the country, with around 10 to 15% of the population.
Community lifestyle
While claiming an original tradition of Islam, more particularly of the Shiites of Iran through the veneration of Ali (son-in-law of the prophet), Alevism is a syncretic religion with inspirations…
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