Djemevis Not Recognized as Places of Worship in İstanbul by AKP, MHP Votes

* Photo: AA - Archive

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The proposal to recognize djemevis [Alevis' places of worship] as places of worship by the Metropolitan Municipality of İstanbul has been rejected by the municipal council members from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

The municipal council members of the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality have accepted the proposal that the cleaning and similar expenses of djemevis are met from the budget of metropolitan municipality.

The proposal to recognize djemevis as places of worship and to meet their sanitation and similar expenses from the budget of the municipality were referred to the Legal Commission - Social Services, Fight Against Addiction and Rehabilitation Commission - Public Relations Commission by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and İYİ Party.

Proposal voted in municipal council

The report of the commissions has stated the following:

"It has been approved by our commissions that cleaning and similar services of dejemevis in İstanbul are met by the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality in the event that they make such a request. Regarding the proposal to recognize djemevis as places of worship, it has been concluded that this issue does not fall within the realm of duty and authority of the municipal council and, therefore, there is no ground to make a decision on this issue."

The report of the commissions was also discussed at the municipal council session yesterday (January 16). In the ensuing vote, the proposal of the CHP and İYİ Party has been jointly rejected by the AKP and allying MHP.

The municipal council members from the AKP and MHP argued that it was within the realm of duty and authority of the Parliament, rather than the municipality, to officially recognize djemevis as places of worship.

Djemevis recognized in İzmir

On January 13, the Metropolitan Municipality of İzmir agreed to recognize seven djemevis across the city as places of worship.

Members from the AKP and MHP also voted against the proposal in İzmir. (EKN/SD)

* Sources: Gazete Duvar news website, daily Sözcü