CANLAR. THE ALEVIS BEKTASHIS

Filmed by Nurdan Arca

2011, France-Turkey, 60 min.
Turkish/French, English subtitles

Canlar, les Alévis Bektashis brings the culture and the philosophy of the Alevi to us, a culture that is founded on tolerance, egalitarianism and humanism. Close to the Bektashi Sufi fraternity, the Alevi share many beliefs with the Shia Islam. Sung poetry and dance constitute important practices for them - the essential content of their doctrines is found in the words of their songs.

Women are considered as equal to men, which is a particularity of the Alevi. This is why men and women pray and dance side by side in their rituals. The Alevi make up an important religious minority in Turkey, which has 15 million followers. There are also numerous communities disseminated in the diaspora. They frequently suffer discrimination, and sometimes persecution, from the current powers.