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NEWS
09 November 2009

Turkey:
Ferhat Tunç sang at large rally for Alevi rights

Singer Ferhat Tunç, currently faced with several trials of freedom of speech in Turkey, was one of the artists who performed in Istanbul on 8 November 2009 in front of 200,000 people protesting for the rights of the Alevi, a religious minority in Turkey.

According to Bionet.org several speakers criticized the government's approach towards Alevi rights for ‘not being sincere‘ and urged for measures within the framework of equality and human rights. They called for a joint opposition of all Alevi groups ‘against this insincerity.

The lifting of compulsory religious education, abolishing the Department for Religious Affairs, transforming the Madımak Hotel in Sivas in eastern Turkey, where 33 people died in a fire, into a museum and acknowledging the 'cem' houses (Alevi houses of assemblage) as places of worship.

The demonstration took place in Kadiköy in Istanbul on 8 November 2009.

Ferhat Tunç, himself an Alevi who belongs to the Kurdish minority, has several times been imprisoned after performances in relationship to rallies advocating freedom rights for the Kurds.










Read more

Bianet.org – 9 November 2009:

'More than 200,000 People Demonstrate for Alevi Rights'

Wikipedia, the open encyclopedia – continuously edited (by anyone):

wikipedia.org/wiki/Alevi


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