Thousands of Alevis protest in Turkey to demand equal citizenship

Thousands of Alevis, Turkey's sizeable religious minority group, staged a demonstration in the Kadikoy district of Istanbul on Sunday, demanding an end to " unfair treatment by authorities." During the protest Alevis chanted the slogan "Equal citizenship, " a motto Alevis use to refer to state practices they believe disadvantage them. A number of parties, Alevi organizations, trade unions, civil society organizations, labor unions and associations participated in the protest, according to the local Cihan News Agency. During the protest, the Alevis demanded a democratic constitution. They also used famous slogans associated with the Gezi Park protests that occurred earlier in the year. Police imposed a high-level of security around the protest area and the protesters were required to go through a checkpoint to avoid any incidents that may increase tensions in the country ahead of the elections next year. The protest came a month after the government unveiled a reform package that failed to meet the demands of Alevis. Turkish authorities said a comprehensive set of reforms is under way that will exclusively address the grievances of the Alevi minority. Recent statements by government officials indicate that the reforms will likely fail to recognize the cemevi, the place Alevis gather to worship, as a recognized place of worship, leaving one of the most important demands of the Alevi citizens unfulfilled. It is unknown how many Alevis there are in Turkey because no official census has ever been authorized. Unofficial estimates put their numbers at between 10 percent and 30 percent of the population. They include ethnic Turks and Kurds. The Alevi sect is a community whose beliefs combine elements of Shia Islam and pre-Islamic folk customs.