On 14th November, BAF left a black wreath at the doors of the Turkish Embassy in London.
This protest came after an omnibus bill was passed in Turkey by the Erdogan Administration which saw the formation of the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency, further showing this bill as an insult to the Alevi belief system.
During the protest, a press release was read and speeches were made by Co-Chairs of BAF, Dilek İncedal and Müslüm Dalkılıç, İbrahim Has, Co-Chair of the London Alevi Cultural Centre and Cemevi, Hasan Gül Co-Chair of Enfield Alevi Cultural Centre, former chair of BAF, Israfil Erbil and also a spokesperson for the Unity of Democratic Organisations – Britain.
Despite all their oppression and intimidation policies Alevis have stated that they will persist in their claim for equal citizenship. On the evening of the 8th November 2022, after a day of peaceful protest and a press release explaining why they didn’t accept this bill, they tried to intimidate people by passing it that very evening.
BAF stated that “Alevis Exist, Alevis Are Here, Alevism Is a Right”. They declared that they want equal citizenship and for the Turkish government to implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
They attested that they did not accept other religions defining their Alevi beliefs, reiterating that they will continue to seek and defend their democratic struggle on legal grounds and that with their Alevi belief, they will build a democratic and secular future together.
