Alevi associations declare support for opposition candidate İhsanoğlu

ANKARA – Doğan News Agency

Head of the Alevi Foundations Federation, Camel Canpolat, makes a press statement on Aug. 8. AA Photo

The Alevi Foundations Federations, which comprises of more than 900 associations, have declared their public support to Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu for the upcoming presidential election on Aug. 10, following their growing discontent with the prime minister’s sectarian rhetoric.

İhsanoğlu, former head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and joint candidate of nine political parties, including the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), has emphasized his desire to respond to Alevi’s demands.

“The person who will be president of this country should be someone who does not plant the seeds of division and sectarianism,” said Cemal Canpolat, head of the Alevi Foundations Federation.

“We have decided to give our support to İhsanoğlu for a country where women can laugh freely, decide how many children they will have themselves and where cemevis are considered places of worship,” he said.

In a written statement, the federation also slammed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for labeling his opponents according to their religion or ethnic identity.

“We are facing an understanding that feeds itself from hate speech and sees all different segments of society as enemies,” the statement read.