Welcome to our Digital Resources section, where you’ll find a curated list of valuable online tools for Alevi Studies. Explore online museums, libraries, YouTube channels, and websites of scientific projects dedicated to Alevi history, culture, and religion. These resources aim to enrich your understanding and research. We also encourage you to contribute by suggesting additional sources to help us grow and diversify this collection. Your input is welcome in shaping this knowledge hub for the Alevi Studies community!
Contact: info@alevistudiesnetwork.org
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Alevi Archive: Ethnohistory of Alevi Communities in Anatolia, 16th to 20th Centuries
Alevis constitute an officially not recognized socio-religious minority in Turkey (10–15 percent of the population) whose relationship to Islam is controversial. Historically, they are linked to the Kızılbaş (“Redheads”), who practiced a charismatic form of Islam and were allied with the Safavid dynasty in Iran since the end of the 15th century. Research to date assumes that, due to ongoing state repression, the Alevis retreated to remote areas of Anatolia during the 16th century and remained in isolation until the early 20th century. According to this view, the central characteristics of Alevism in terms of social structure, ritual, and endogamy developed largely in isolation from a hostile Sunni environment. To this day, this narrative has a major social and political impact and shapes the debate on the historical and religious classification of the Alevis. However, it has never been systematically examined on the basis of comprehensive empirical material.
The Alevi Archive focuses on settlement dynamics and processes of community formation among Alevi groups in their complex relationships with the state as well as with Sunnis, Christians, and other religious and social groups. Using a combination of methods that is innovative for these research questions (ethnohistory) and based on previously not yet used and interlinked source material (including Ottoman archives, manuscripts from Alevi collections, oral traditions, and material culture), the project aims at reconstructing the historical living environments of the Alevis. It thus aspires to provide a fundamental contribution to Anatolian social and religious history. The integrated digital humanities approach enables the project to systematically collect, analyse, and network the data in a virtual research environment created for this purpose. Processed data will be made publicly available as far as possible. As basic research on Alevi social and religious history, the Alevi Archive also makes an important contribution to preserving the cultural heritage of the Alevis.
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The Alevi Library is a collection of publications on Alevism curated by Markus Dreßler (University of Leipzig), Janina Karolewski (University of Hamburg) and Benjamin Weineck (University of Heidelberg) in co-operation with the FID Middle East.
Initially, the collection will comprise academic literature available online. In the future, the collection will focus on works by non-academic local historians and ethnographers (araştırmacı-yazar), grey literature, journals and editions of manuscripts. The growing collection provides the interested public with primary and secondary media that is difficult to access and is intended to serve as a research tool for the international field of Alevi studies in particular.
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Die neue Online-Ausstellung Heilige Geografie – Dersim und Diaspora auf der Plattform der Deutschen Digitalen Bibliothek erzählt die Geschichte der kurdisch-alevitischen Gemeinschaft aus Dersim und ihres naturbezogenen Glaubenssystems Raa Haqi – von der Verfolgung bis zum Weiterleben in der deutschen Diaspora. Basierend auf langjähriger ethnografischer Forschung von Dr. Ahmet Kerim Gültekin und ergänzt durch Bilder von Caner Canerik, verknüpft die Schau Erinnerung, Spiritualität und Widerstand und stellt das Konzept der „heiligen Geografie“ (Jiara u Dîyar) in den Mittelpunkt. Dabei wird die Beziehung zu heiligen Orten, Naturwesen und rituellen Objekten aus einer innensichtigen Perspektive erfahrbar gemacht. Die Ausstellung gibt einer oft überhörten Minderheit eine Stimme und lädt dazu ein, religiöse Vielfalt, Migrationserfahrungen und neue Formen von Erinnerung und Zusammenhalt in der deutschen Gesellschaft zu reflektieren.
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Dersim Museum in Exile – A Digital Memory Space for Cultural Continuity
The Dersim Museum in Exile is a digital platform dedicated to preserving and transmitting the cultural memory of the Dersim region, with a focus on its Alevi heritage, multilingual traditions, and history of displacement. Through digitized archives, oral histories, 3D objects, and multimedia materials, the museum offers an accessible and living repository that reflects both the historical richness and contemporary experiences of the Dersim community—especially in exile. By connecting tangible and intangible heritage, it promotes intercultural understanding, academic inquiry, and the visibility of a long-marginalized culture in both Germany and the wider world.
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“The ZOZAN project combines three thematic areas: past and present mobilities of Kurds, art production, and representation in transnational spaces. The interdisciplinary project approach of a “critical anthropology of art” combines artistic practice, (visual) anthropology, and art-based research to document, analyze, and (re)present traditional and modern forms of migration(s) in Kurdish societies. In doing so, transnational connections and flows are made visible.”
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Berlin, 01.11.08: Erklärung der AGA zum 70. Gedenkjahr an den Völkermord in Dersim 1937/38
Die Seite enthält eine Erklärung der Arbeitsgruppe Anerkennung – gegen Genozid, für Völkerverständigung e.V. (AGA) zum 70. Gedenkjahr des Völkermords in Dersim 1937/38. Sie beleuchtet die historischen Ereignisse und fordert Anerkennung sowie Aufarbeitung des Genozids an der kurdisch-alevitischen Bevölkerung in Dersim durch die türkische Regierung.
Die AGA betont die Wichtigkeit der Erinnerungskultur und der Anerkennung von Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit, um Frieden und Verständigung zu fördern. Die Erklärung unterstreicht zudem die Notwendigkeit, die Betroffenen und Nachkommen zu unterstützen und die Geschichte aufzuarbeiten.
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This interdisciplinary project explores the unique cultural, historical, and socio-political landscape of Dersim, focusing on its Kurdish Alevi communities. The research delves into how Dersim’s inhabitants navigate their distinct cultural heritage and historical marginalization by examining themes of identity, collective memory, and resistance. It addresses issues of ethno-religious identity, memory preservation, environmental struggles, and the impact of state policies on local communities. The project brings together diverse scholarly perspectives to shed light on the complexities of Dersim as a symbolic and liminal space within Turkey and the Alevi world.
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Alevi Ansiklopedisi / Alevi Encyclopedia
The Alevi Encyclopedia website is a comprehensive digital platform dedicated to the study and dissemination of knowledge about Alevi history, culture, and religious practices. It provides scholarly articles, historical documents, and resources that explore the Alevi faith, its philosophical foundations, and the social and political dynamics within Alevi communities. The website aims to foster academic research and public understanding of Alevi traditions, offering valuable insights into the cultural and religious diversity of Alevism across different regions and time periods. It serves as a vital resource for researchers, students, and anyone interested in Alevi studies.
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Yolpedia is a digital platform focused on providing comprehensive and accessible information on Alevism, its history, culture, and religious practices. It serves as an open-source encyclopedia, allowing contributions from scholars and community members alike. The website aims to promote deeper understanding and research into Alevi heritage, offering educational content, historical archives, and resources in multiple languages. Visitors can explore various topics related to Alevi faith, rituals, and social issues through this collaborative platform.
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School of Alevism is dedicated to educating through videos in English, created by native speakers. The content focuses on Alevism, researched from knowledge shared by Dedes and Anas, as well as academic sources. It covers Alevism’s history, sociology, and religious practices, aiming to enlighten curious minds about this rich tradition.
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The Madımak Memorial Center / Madımak Katliamı Hafıza Merkezi (Madımak Online Museum)
The Madımak Memorial Center website is dedicated to preserving the memory of the 1993 Sivas massacre, where 33 people, including artists, intellectuals, and children, were killed. It offers resources such as a digital library, virtual museum, documentaries, and oral history interviews to raise awareness of the massacre. The center aims to contribute to collective memory, educate future generations, and advocate for justice. It stands as a call for recognition and remembrance of this tragic event in Alevi history.
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The Alevis of the Munzur Valley
The Munzur Valley website explores the rich cultural and religious heritage of the Alevi Kurds living in the Munzur Valley, located in the Dersim region of eastern Turkey. It covers the valley’s biodiversity, Alevi spirituality, and the environmental threats posed by dam projects. The site delves into the history, customs, and ongoing struggles of the Alevi community to preserve their homeland, sacred sites, and unique way of life amidst modern challenges.
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“And The Mountain Said To Munzur: You, River Of My Tears”
The project “And The Mountain Said To Munzur: You, River Of My Tears” by Miriam Stanke explores the cultural and historical struggles of the Alevi Kurds in Dersim, particularly the impacts of state oppression, the 1938 massacre, and the ecological threats posed by dam projects. It captures the deep connection between the Alevi community, nature, and their enduring resistance for cultural preservation, autonomy, and identity.
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Finding Paradise in Turkey’s Munzur Valley
In Michael Benanav’s article, Finding Paradise in Turkey’s Munzur Valley, he explores the natural beauty and cultural significance of the Munzur Valley in eastern Anatolia. The valley is sacred to the Alevi Kurds, known for its clear rivers and lush landscapes. Benanav describes local traditions, Alevi spirituality, and the region’s struggle against dam projects threatening its environment and villages. He also reflects on the valley’s turbulent history, including the 1937-38 Dersim massacre and later military conflicts.
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“The Massacre in Dersim Still Haunts Kurds in Turkey”
The article explores the tragic events of the Dersim Massacre in 1937–1938, where Turkish forces brutally suppressed a Kurdish-Alevi uprising, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands. The article contextualizes the massacre within Turkey’s broader policies of forced assimilation and repression of ethnic minorities. It also reflects on how the Turkish government, including under President Erdoğan, has continued to grapple with its historical legacy, often utilizing Dersim as a political tool while failing to fully acknowledge the extent of state violence.
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Can TV, “Yolun Tarihi” Programı
Prof Dr. Çiğdem Boz’un yayına hazılayıp yönettiği programda Alevilik üzerine farklı konularda akademisyenlerin ve araştırmacıların davetli olduğu zengin içerikler bulunmaktadır.
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ALEVISM IN TURKEY: PROBLEM AND SOLUTIONS; Seven Demands, Seven Proposals
Alevism, one of Anatolia and Mesopotamia’s ancient belief systems, faces ongoing challenges in Turkey. Historically subjected to denial, destruction, and assimilation, Alevis continue to seek recognition and equality. Key demands include official acknowledgment of cemevis as places of worship, exemption from compulsory Sunni-based religious education, and the transformation of the Madımak Hotel into a memorial museum. Proposals emphasize the closure of the Presidency of Religious Affairs to ensure state neutrality in religious matters and the cessation of assimilation policies. Achieving these goals is essential for a democratic and secular Turkey that respects diverse belief systems.
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