AFA

Alevis do not wear any distinctive dress and cannot be distinguished from other people. Men and women have equal rights and responsibilities in life. In the Alevi philosophy humanity is the centre of universe and there is the unity of existence - people, nature, minerals and the universe are one.

 

Alevis also hold dear the following values:

• Individual autonomy (the essence of human rights);

• Personal responsibility (humans cannot pass this to 'higher forces');

• No dogmas (no religious do's and don'ts: purity lays in someone's acts and thoughts), and

• Self-realisation.

 

Men and women are given the same opportunities and take part equally in all facets of life. In Alevi discourse, women are sublime (worthy of the highest moral and spiritual value) and you will find this philosophy condemning gender discrimination.

 

As the following quote illustrates, in Alevi philosophy, it is not gender but peoples voluntary love, kindness, respect and contribution that is seen as superior.

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My pilgrimage is towards mankind There is NO supreme religion, supreme race, supreme language, supreme culture, supreme gender in our belief.

 

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No flower is better than another,
every flower has it's distinguished colour,
distinguished smell.
All flowers are beautiful.
All mankind are beautiful!
All mankind are equal...

(Haci Bektas Veli, 1210-1300AD)

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In Alevi cosmology all human beings are considered as "Can" or Life - living in all areas of social space.

The core Alevi belief is to purify oneself of their sub identities, such as race, religion, gender, language, status, and authority and return to their true core identity as a human being.

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Real freedom is freedom from all forms of bondage. It can be achieved only through development and purification of one's own mind - purging and cleansing oneself from all taints of greed, hatred and delusion.

Another significant Alevi belief that is the absolute centre of Alevi behaviour is that 'control comes within' - the Alevis express this self-control by using the following moral code: "Eline, diline, beline sahip olmak".

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• ELINE: control of hand, formids killing, stealing or committing violence against another human.

• DILINE: control of the tongue, formids gossip, lies or speaking maliciously.

• BELINE: control of loins, formids adultery and non-consensual sex.