Cemevi

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies have submitted a bill to the parliament for the Culture and Tourism Ministry to cover the lighting expenses of the cemevis, Alevi houses of worship.

The bill also proposes that the water costs will be met at a discount or free of charge.

The Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency will be established to meet Alevi-Bektashi citizens' demands and institutionalize the administration of cemevis, Alevi houses of worship, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced.

Following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statement that the government is extending efforts to meet Alevi-Bektashi citizens' demands, local media has alleged that five regulations will be made for cemevis, Alevi houses of worship.

A cave in which Hüseyin Gazi, the father of the Turkish epic hero, Battal Gazi, once lived will be opened to tourism following an order by the president.

Istanbul Police Department has assigned a special team to inspect the attack carried out by two assailants on Selami Sarıtaş, the head of a cemevi in Istanbul's Kartal district, on Aug. 5.

One of the two motorcyclists, who allegedly made a scouting trip on the street before, approached Sarıtaş, who was returning home in his car, under the pretext of asking for an address.

The attacks on Alevi prayer houses, known as the "cemevi," in the capital Ankara are connected to some terror groups, the spokesperson of the interior ministry has said.

"Three people were detained. They have connections to some organizations," İsmail Çataklı said on late Aug. 3.

The funeral of producer and founder of Kalan Music, Hasan Saltık, who died of a heart attack at the age of 57 on June 2 in the Bodrum district of Muğla, was laid to rest on June 4 in Istanbul's Küçükyalı Cemetery.

The city councils of Istanbul and the Aegean province of İzmir have decided to grant Alevi worship places, known as cemevi in Turkish, a legal status of "house of worship" in order to provide public services and discounts that are given to mosques, churches and synagogues.

Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency "never manipulates election results," Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ said on June 22.

An unidentified assailant wrote insulting and curse-ridden graffiti on the walls of a cemevi, an Alevi house of worship, in the northwestern province of Bursa early on May 3.