Alevi Monument
In 2013, the Alevi Federation of Australia (AFA) unveiled a unique monument in Coburg, Melbourne, to memorialise Alevi people in Australia and to symbolise enlightenment, peace, and unity for generations to come.
Project unveiling
The monument was unveiled in Coburg with a traditional Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony and a
spiritual performance of Semah, alongside valued members of the Alevi community, politicians, and distinguished guests.
Four sides - four cities
The monument has four sides with an engraving of a city in Turkey – Sivas, Corum, Dersim and Maras. These are cities in Turkey which are highly significant to the Alevi community as a whole, and cities where a large number of Alevi’s originally come from. Our four-sided monument symbolises the four fundamental sources of life – water, fire, air, and earth – as well as the Four Gates and Forty Stations, which form the foundation of Alevi philosophy.
Monument vandalised
In September 2020, the Alevi Monument was targeted by vandals and suffered subsequent damage. The following year in November, the monument was restored to its original state thanks to the efforts of Merri-bek City Council.
Representing life
On top of the monument is a round ball reflecting
the sun, held by an open palm. In Alevi belief, the sun represents life and every living thing under the sun is equal. The Sun positioned at the top symbolises the beginning of life, light, enlightenment, peace, brotherhood, and freedom. The human hand symbolizes that everything lies in human hands and, as expressed in the teachings of our Pirs who say “those who do not work are not of us,” that labor is the highest value.
