Turkey’s president announces cultural-political initiative to serve the Shia Alawites

On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a new initiative for the country’s Shia Alawite community, and said that Turkey would establish a “presidency of Alawite culture and places of worship.”

This came during his attendance at the opening ceremony of a new house of worship for the Shia Alawites.

“The government will form an institutional body that will deal with affairs and address the problems faced by the Alawite citizens,” Erdogan said, according to what was reported by Turkish media and followed by Shia Waves News Agency.

“We are in the process of establishing an institutional body to follow up and implement the issues of the places where Alawites and Bektashi citizens meet,” he said, adding, “All problems related to lighting, drinking water, utilities, construction, repair and maintenance expenses for houses of worship will be resolved.”

The Turkish president indicated that “1585 Alawite houses of worship were visited within the framework of unity and solidarity work implemented in coordination between the Ministries of Culture and the Interior.”

At a parliamentary meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party, last Tuesday, Erdogan said that he will announce new steps to meet the expectations of the Alawites, despite attempts to provoke them in the country.