Here you can see two photos. One of them was taken from the cemevi (cem house, Alawite house of prayer) in Küçükarmutlu neighborhood in Istanbul on July 19. The last year’s Anti-Imperialist Symposium was held there. Also, before the previous years’ symposiums, political trips to neighborhoods (including Küçükarmutlu) were organized. This year’s symposium will also be held in Küçükarmutlu cemevi.

Here, this cem house was raided by police on July 19. Dozens of people were tortured, handcuffed in the back and taken into custody. Later, 2 revolutionaries from People’s Front were arrested. Beyond these, what angered us was that, the police urinated in hall of the cemevi.

Yes, you didn’t hear us wrong… The police URINATED in the hall of cemevi, which is the place of worship for Alawite people.

Consider that, for example in your country, the police raiding inside the church, or mosuqe, in the daytime, drowning people in the teargas, taking people into custody by torture, and finally urinating in the middle of it… That was what happened in Küçükarmutlu, and was very similar to what Israeli forces did in Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem…

This despicable attack was protested by Alawite organizations in Turkey. They came in Küçükarmutlu and made joint protest statement. Zeynep Yıldırım, chairwoman of Küçükarmutlu cemevi, exposed the assaults of the police to the press. As a result, what happened? One day later, Yıldırım was also taken into custody and arrested.

In the second photo, there is a 90 year-old grandma. Today, a resistence is going on inside Küçükarmutlu cemevi by the grandma, Kezban Bektaş (mother Kezban, on the right). She has been living in Küçükarmutlu for years, and she is also the mother of Zeynep Yıldırım, the chairwoman of cemevi. Kezban ana is doing a sit protest every day in cemevi. She is saying that “The ones who urinated
inside the cemevi should be arrested, not by daughter”.

Here comrades, we wanted to express how vile and barbarous enemy we are fighting against. We are sure that if we remain silent when they urinate in cemevi, then they will urinate on us tomorrow. Let us raise our voice and stand by Kezban ana… On this occasion, we invite you once again to the 9th Eyup Bas Symposium for Unity of the Peoples Against Imperialist Aggression which will be held on 8-9 September in Küçükarmutlu. We also call you to take attitude against the revolting assault in Küçükarmutlu.

In addition, we request you to send e-mails or faxes to Turkish Presidency and Ministry of Interior. Below are the e-mail and fax information:

Presidency of Turkey:
Fax no: +90 312 525 58 31
E-mail: contact@tccb.gov.tr

Ministry of Interior:
Fax no: +90 312 418 12 60
E-mail: teftis@icisleri.gov.tr
With revolutionary greetings…