An Initiative to Carry Alevi Knowledge into the Future
Launched in March 2024 under the leadership of the Rıza Şehri Academy, the Alevi Encyclopedia project emerged as a response to the need to systematically compile and transmit knowledge of Alevism, to prevent the spread of misinformation in this field, and to counter the ongoing epistemic violence directed against Alevism. The project represents a significant step toward producing and safeguarding Alevi knowledge based on the community’s own meanings, emotions, voices, and symbols. Sustained by the contributions of a broad collective of academics, community leaders, and researchers, this initiative is a valuable undertaking whose impact will reach far into the future.
Aiming to establish itself on a professional foundation in 2025, the project seeks to provide the Alevi public and the wider world with an easily accessible, multilingual, web-based knowledge platform. The encyclopedia will publish content in Turkish, Kurmanji, Kirmancki, English, German, and French, with the goal of connecting the history, sociology, anthropology, memory, and knowledge of Alevism especially to younger generations in Turkey and the European diaspora.
The scope of the project, its progress to date, and its future goals were discussed at the Alevi Encyclopedia Symposium, held in Dortmund, Germany, on November 16–17, 2024. The two-day event brought together academics, religious leaders, representatives of Alevi institutions from Turkey and Europe, and members of other historically and culturally related communities such as Êzidîs and Yaresan/Kakai (Ehli Haq), many of whom, like the Alevi diaspora, also live largely in exile. The symposium addressed pressing questions: how Alevism, currently confronted with both physical and epistemic violence, can preserve its faith and cultural identity within a scientific framework, and how it can be transmitted using tools suited to contemporary realities. Additionally, discussions focused on how the Alevi Encyclopedia could draw upon recent initiatives such as the Alevi Academies, which have rapidly expanded in Turkey and Europe over the past two decades, and how it might bring together the existing body of scholarship in the field.
On the first day, three sessions explored various examples of experiences from Turkey and Europe regarding the compilation and transmission of knowledge about Alevism.
In particular, the sessions highlighted problems stemming from state policies in Turkey that restrict the collection and transmission of Alevi knowledge. The discussions examined interventions carried out through structures established within universities and the Ministry of Culture, which have often sought not to reflect Alevism’s internal cultural diversity but to reconstruct it within a specific ideological framework.
In response to these epistemic-violence policies, the symposium underscored efforts in Turkey such as the establishment of Alevi Academies, which represent alternative attempts by Alevis to reclaim their knowledge. Similarly, while academic research on Alevism has increased in Europe—where a comparatively freer environment for research exists—the proliferation of Alevi Academies in Europe was also interpreted as an extension of the community’s efforts to create its own sources of knowledge in the diaspora. Within this context, the Alevi Encyclopedia was seen as having significant potential to play a unifying role, ensuring the accurate transmission and representation of Alevi knowledge.
The symposium also addressed the impact of digitalization on the reproduction and dissemination of Alevi knowledge. Moving Alevi memory into digital spaces was recognized as essential, both for accessibility and for reflecting the diversity of knowledge. Current examples, such as developments in online platforms and virtual museums, were evaluated in detail for their potential reciprocal contributions with the Alevi Encyclopedia.
The second day of the symposium focused on the resistance experiences of different communities against assimilation, as well as on theological and social aspects of Alevism.
Êzidîs, Yaresan/Ehli Haq, Kakais, and Raa Haq—ancient faiths of Mesopotamia and Anatolia—were discussed in depth with regard to their resistance against assimilation policies throughout history. The conversations examined how these communities, subjected to attempts at enforced oblivion, sustained their resistance through solidarity and shared strategies of struggle. Within this framework, the Alevi Encyclopedia was recognized not only as a resource for preserving Alevi memory and knowledge, but also as a critical tool for safeguarding the memory of these ancient traditions. The encyclopedia was seen as an important platform for reconstructing collective memory in the face of trauma and ensuring its transmission to future generations.
Fundamental beliefs and values of Alevism were also explored by Pirler and Analar—the spiritual guides of the Path. Drawing on experiences from the past and from rural life, they vividly explained Alevi conceptions of humanity and the universe, sacred places, and various religious and social themes. In particular, discussions on the sanctity of nature and Alevism’s theological and practical approaches to protecting life and the environment left a deep impression on participants. These dialogues emphasized the peaceful and inclusive identity of Alevism and underscored the vital role the Alevi Encyclopedia can play in preserving and transmitting these values.
In the symposium’s final session, representatives of various Alevi institutions from Turkey and Europe emphasized that the Alevi Encyclopedia project represents a historic opportunity. They stressed that the project should not be seen as merely an effort to compile and transmit Alevi knowledge, but also as a potential force of resistance against assimilation policies. Participants highlighted the need to strengthen the project through collaboration with Alevi federations, academics, and the media. They also voiced their conviction that this collective endeavor could create an inclusive knowledge resource reflecting the multiple identities and belief structures of Alevism across different geographies, pledging both material and moral support to the project.
The symposium concluded with the presentation of the Alevi Encyclopedia’s future roadmap. Participants emphasized the necessity of building an international literature on Alevism, while noting that the encyclopedia’s multilingual service and its ability to present multiple perspectives on the same topic would ensure that it reflects the internal diversity of Alevism.
According to the planned timeline, the website will go live in early 2025, with a call for contributions to scholars and the public on January 15, 2025. Beginning in June 2025, written entries will be uploaded to the site, and the encyclopedia will continue to develop incrementally according to a structured schedule.
It was concluded that the Alevi Encyclopedia is not only a source of knowledge, but also a project that protects the historical and cultural reality of Alevism, safeguards its heritage, contributes to its international recognition, and leaves a strong legacy for the future.
