A win for opposition front-runner Kemal Kilicdaroglu in Turkey's presidential election on Sunday could bring significant change not just to national politics, but also for the country's Alevi minority.
The soft-spoken former civil servant is a far cry from the combative and outspoken incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for more than two decades.
Mr Kilicdaroglu would also become the first Alevi to hold the presidency, which members of the minority say would give them hope of more equal treatment.
While official statistics are hard to come by, rights groups estimate Alevis are the largest religious minority in Turkey, with an estimated population of 15 million to 20 million.
The Alevi faith incorporates elements of Sufi and Twelver Shia Islam but falls under neither Sunni or Shiite Islam.
Ilhan Sidal, 33, an Alevi living in Istanbul's Gazi area, believes Mr Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) has sidelined his community.
“I want equality. This is what I'm expecting from the government. To treat us all as equal citizens of Turkey. When you walk around Istanbul, you see a Sunni mosque on every corner. I'm also Muslim, but I want equality for everyone,” he said, speaking to The National at a teahouse near the popular Istiklal Avenue.
“There aren't enough Alevi prayer houses for us. There are 200,000 to 300,000 people in my neighbourhood but only two cemevis,” Mr Sidal said, referring to the Alevi houses of worship.
“Some days we have three burials in one day and there isn't enough space to hold the funerals.”
Mr Kilicdaroglu, leader of the secular Republican People's Party (CHP), spoke publicly of his religious identity in a video that has been viewed more than 115 million views since it was posted online last month. In it, he proclaims “I am Alevi” before urging young people to vote.
“The opposition strategy for a long time was to deny, to not touch on any of these identity issues,” researcher Guney Yildiz told The National.
“Kilicdaroglu has taken a step towards accepting diversity within the opposition. They're confronting Erdogan's populism with pluralism, which is innovative.”
A short walk from the teahouse is Okmeydani, a diverse neighbourhood with many Alevi residents. The narrow alleyways are lined with CHP campaign posters; those of the AKP are defaced with black ink.
“If Kilicdaroglu comes, we will all be equal. Politics shouldn't be based on identity but humanity,” said Abbas, 51, a resident sitting at a streetside teahouse.
Like other Alevi residents who spoke to The National, he declined to give his full name.
“We will be freer than today. Our quality of life will be better. You can't talk about anything under Erdogan,” said Jameel, 62, who said the two biggest issues are inflation and censorship under the current government.
In Okmeydani, a cemevi stands out among uneven rows of rundown housing, well-painted and decorated with a large mural of Imam Ali.
Men sipping tea in the cemevi's cafeteria were wary of the prospect of another five years under the AKP.
“There's a lot of fear,” said Ali. “The president only takes care of his supporters. He isn't seeing the other side.”
According to Professor Bulent Bilmiz of Istanbul's Bilgi University, the Alevi community has had to live “almost underground”.
“Alevis in Turkey are known as CHP supporters for a long time, at least since the 1960s. It's a very complicated issue. The republic has never really recognised them and given them cultural and confessional rights, but the Alevis still preferred the CHP to Islamists,” he said.
In October, the government proposed reforms to bring cemevi and Alevi affairs under a government directorate, which was met with opposition from the community.
Mr Yildiz said Mr Erdogan boasted of having knowledge of Alevi issues but failed to demonstrate his awareness of them.
“If you asked Erdogan what's the best chance he had against Kilicdaroglu before the election, he would have said his Alevi identity.
“They tried at the beginning, but it's the least successful area of reform for the AK party under their rule,” he said.
“What is Erdogan's magic, despite the economy and the great mistakes in foreign policy? It's these fault lines, these identity fault lines and regionalism.”
Mr Erdogan was able to “tap into these fault lines and work them to his advantage” against a diverse opposition alliance which has varying political views, Mr Yildiz said.
“Turkey is a polarised society, but the government can decide on where the polarisation will lie. If it's on the economy, foreign policy, the aftermath of the earthquake, then the government will lose the debate," he said.
“But if the polarisation is on identity, the opposition might lose.”
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
SPECS
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The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E680hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800Nm%20at%202%2C750-6%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERear-mounted%20eight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E13.6L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Orderbook%20open%3B%20deliveries%20start%20end%20of%20year%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh970%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
2024%20Dubai%20Marathon%20Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWomen%E2%80%99s%20race%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Tigist%20Ketema%20(ETH)%202hrs%2016min%207sec%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ruti%20Aga%20(ETH)%202%3A18%3A09%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Dera%20Dida%20(ETH)%202%3A19%3A29%0D%3Cbr%3EMen's%20race%3A%0D%3Cbr%3E1.%20Addisu%20Gobena%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A01%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lemi%20Dumicha%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A20%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20DejeneMegersa%20(ETH)%202%3A05%3A42%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
And%20Just%20Like%20That...
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Various%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sarah%20Jessica%20Parker%2C%20Cynthia%20Nixon%2C%20Kristin%20Davis%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
2.0
Director: S Shankar
Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films
Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
