53 Alevi intellectuals reject Öcalan's reference to a 'Selim-Bitlis alliance' as archaic and bloody

Fifty-three Alevi intellectuals have rejected Abdullah Öcalan's reference to a historical alliance between Yavuz Sultan Selim and Idris-i Bitlisi, calling it an "archaic and bloody alliance." Their statement came as Öcalan's formulation became a subject of debate.

The signatories said an agreement between the parties to end four decades of conflict and violence linked to the Kurdish issue was welcome. They said they were closely following legal work in the Grand National Assembly and hoped lawmakers would take steps to strengthen democracy.

But they argued that references from the İmralı-based process to a bloody period in history weakened trust in efforts to build a peaceful society. The statement said the cooperation between Selim and Bitlisi in the 16th century resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of Alevis and began attacks on their lives, property and honor that continued for centuries. Using that relationship as a reference for Öcalan's political roadmap, it said, was unacceptable in terms of human rights, universal values and peace.

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We reject the archaic and bloody alliance referenced through Yavuz Selim and Idris-i Bitlisi.

The group also expressed concern about political alliances in Syria after the former regime, saying they had become an initial step toward depriving Syrian Alevis of basic rights. It said the possibility of attacks against Alevis continuing under the Shara administration had created serious anxiety. The statement criticized Alevi institutions and intellectuals who, in the signatories' view, had remained silent under Öcalan's influence.

The declaration called on Alevi organizations and intellectuals, along with left-wing, socialist and democratic groups, to support a peace process that guarantees democratic legal rights. It rejected any language that could alarm Alevis in Turkey or Syria while the country seeks to move away from violence linked to the Kurdish issue.

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Using this relationship as a reference for Abdullah Öcalan's political roadmap is unacceptable in the name of human rights, universal values and peace.