Alevis protest door markings in southeast Turkey

ADIYAMAN - Anatolia News Agency

DHA photo

Alevi institutions staged a rally to protest the marking of Alevi homes in the southeastern province of Adıyaman yesterday. 
 
Doors of Alevi residences were marked last week in Karapınar neighborhood of Adıyaman, causing fear that members of the community were about to be attacked. Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin had said it was the work of "a couple of kids" and not the premonition of an attack.
 
Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Institution Chairman Hüseyin Güzelgül spoke at the gathering and said, "They called the suspects who bombed Umut bookstore in Şırnak 'good kids.' They called Hrant Dink's murderer a 'kid.' They said those who marked the homes were kids as well. We want them to find out who those kids are and who made them mark the homes."
 
Hacı Bektaş Veli Anatolian Culture Foundation Chairman Ercan Geçmez said some people were trying to put the Alevis "into their places" in Adıyaman and added, "the duty falls on our Sunni brothers to follow this case through." 
 
Alevi Bektaşi Fedaration Chairman Selahattin Özel said it was up to the government to find the people responsible for the incident in Adıyaman. Özel said they never fell for provocation and always sided with the oppressed. 
 
Adıyaman deputy from main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Salih Fırat said the incident in Karapınar aimed to disrupt the peace and brotherhood in Adıyaman. 
 
"Adıyaman is a mosaic of Turkey. It is a symbol of brotherhood and peace," Fırat said.