Aliağa Cultural Center to Serve as a Djemevi

Aliağa Cultural Center, built by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, was put into use as a cemevi. At the opening ceremony of the Cemevi, representatives of Alevi associations and federations thanked Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. Deputy Mayor of Metropolitan Municipality Mustafa Özuslu said, “As İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, we will continue to be with you.”

Aliağa Cultural Center, which was opened by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality in 2014, started its activities as a cemevi. The center was opened as a cemevi with the decision taken by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Assembly and then the protocol signed with the Aliağa branch of the Alevi Culture Associations (AKD).

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Özuslu, Alevi Bektashi Federation Chairman Mustafa Aslan, Alevi Cultural Associations Chairman İsmet Kurt, Alevi Cultural Associations Aliağa Branch Chairman Celal Süslü, council members, representatives of political parties and the people of Aliağa attended the opening ceremony.

Essence: It was one of the first decisions we made to consider cemevis as places of worship.

Speaking at the opening, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Özuslu said, “As İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, we are with you and we will continue to be with you. One of the first decisions we made was to consider cemevis as places of worship. Today, we are handing over a right here. In fact, the issue is very clear. We are citizens of the Republic of Turkey living together in this country. Look, there's a beautiful painting here. Every party is here. This is so precious. This is Turkey. This is the best message that should be given to Ankara from Aliağa.”

Thanks to the Metropolitan

Mustafa Aslan, Chairman of the Alevi Bektashi Federation, stated that they were happy to meet at the opening of the cemevi and said, “I would like to thank all my friends who contributed. This is one of the best examples of living together in a secular democratic country. I would like to thank Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for this as well.”

İsmet Kurt, Chairman of Alevi Cultural Associations, said: “What makes the temple precious is the soul that enters it. I would like to thank anyone who puts stone on stone for this sanctuary.

Celal Süslü, President of the Aliağa Branch of Alevi Culture Associations, thanked the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for the construction and transfer of the cultural center and said, "May our Cemevi be beneficial to all of us."

In its session dated January 13, 2020, the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council decided with a majority of votes that the cemevis should be included in the zoning plan as places of worship.