AFaithIndependent states
Alevism and Bektashism
A faith tradition formed among the Turks of Anatolia, rooted in love of Ali and the Prophet's family and in the teaching of Haji Bektash Veli.
Alevism took shape among the Turkmen tribes of Anatolia on the teachings of Haji Bektash Veli, Yunus Emre and other saints. At its heart are love of God, the Prophet Muhammad and Ali, the Twelve Imams, and an ethic that exalts the human being — "be master of your hands, tongue and loins".
The main Alevi worship is the cem, led by a dede in a cemevi, where the bağlama is played, hymns are sung and the semah is turned. "Semah, Alevi-Bektaşi ritual" was inscribed on UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2010. A fast is kept in Muharram, ending with aşure.
Alevi-Bektashi verse includes, alongside minstrels such as Pir Sultan Abdal, the hymns of Shah Ismail, who wrote as Khatai — a spiritual heritage shared with Azerbaijan. Millions of Alevis live in Türkiye.
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Updated: October 2, 2026