Three Alevi and three Sunni businessmen who are behind the widely supported joint mosque-cemevi project in Ankara have denounced criticisms about the plan and told Today's Zaman that they are laying the brickwork for social peace.
A construction plan -- suggested by Turkish-Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen -- for a complex housing the first ever cultural center with a mosque and a cemevi (Alevi house of worship) together in Ankara's Mamak district is being financed by six businessmen, three Alevis and three Sunnis, for the first stage of the project.
The project is being conducted by the CEM Foundation and the Hacı Bektaş Veli Culture, Education, Health and Research Foundation.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the culture center was held in Ankara on Sept. 8 with the participation of a number of government figures as well as Alevi and Sunni community leaders and members of the public.
The project aims to strengthen ties between the Alevi and Sunni communities in Turkey in the face of efforts to ignite sectarian tension in the Middle East.
The project has drawn criticisms from some marginal Alevi and Sunni circles and a group of nearly 500 people protested the project, clashing with the police and throwing stones at them during the groundbreaking ceremony.
However, the six businessmen who are financing the project believe it the complex will prevent a possible sectarian conflict that is the goal of some circles.
Hüseyin Saruhan, one of the financiers, told Today's Zaman that there are many people among both the Sunni and Alevi communities who wanted to offer their financial support for the project. Saruhan emphasized the importance of the complex, saying, “We aim at laying a strong foundation of brotherhood.”
Saruhan stated that there are some groups that intend to cause dissension between Sunni and Alevi communities. Noting that he and his partners work for unification, Saruhan said: “Constructing a joint mosque-cemevi is a very brave step. It is also important because it was initiated by a suggestion from Fethullah Gülen, who is a prominent pundit of the modern-day."
Another businessman behind the project, Bayram Tarcan, said: “We have undertaken the expenses of this project, working hand in hand with our Sunni brothers. The project indeed will show both communities how much we have in common.”
Tarcan stated that the businessmen received many phone calls from Alevi and Sunni figures offering financial support for the project. “This is very pleasing. It means current criticisms against the project only come from marginals, while grassroots groups support the project.”
Şaban Başdurak, who has a supermarket chain in Ankara, is also among the six businessmen supporting the project financially. Başdurak said he found the project exciting and described it as a solid attempt in terms of precluding a possible sectarian dispute. According to Başdurak, a mosque is not an alternative for a cemevi and it is true the other way around as well.
Another sponsor of the joint mosque and cemevi is industrialist Hüseyin Yörük. He said that housing a mosque and a cemevi in the same complex indicates profound tolerance of the Turkish public. Yörük stated that he wanted to build a society with no biases and conflict.
Published on Sunday's Zaman, 15 September 2013, Sunday
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| Sponsors of the cultural center mosque-cemevi project in Ankara’s Mamak district, (L-R) Hüseyin Saruhan, Bayram Tarcan, Şaban Başdurak and Hüseyin Yörük, pose together. (Photo: Today's Zaman, Mevlüt Karabulut) |
A construction plan -- suggested by Turkish-Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen -- for a complex housing the first ever cultural center with a mosque and a cemevi (Alevi house of worship) together in Ankara's Mamak district is being financed by six businessmen, three Alevis and three Sunnis, for the first stage of the project.
The project is being conducted by the CEM Foundation and the Hacı Bektaş Veli Culture, Education, Health and Research Foundation.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the culture center was held in Ankara on Sept. 8 with the participation of a number of government figures as well as Alevi and Sunni community leaders and members of the public.
The project aims to strengthen ties between the Alevi and Sunni communities in Turkey in the face of efforts to ignite sectarian tension in the Middle East.
The project has drawn criticisms from some marginal Alevi and Sunni circles and a group of nearly 500 people protested the project, clashing with the police and throwing stones at them during the groundbreaking ceremony.
However, the six businessmen who are financing the project believe it the complex will prevent a possible sectarian conflict that is the goal of some circles.
Hüseyin Saruhan, one of the financiers, told Today's Zaman that there are many people among both the Sunni and Alevi communities who wanted to offer their financial support for the project. Saruhan emphasized the importance of the complex, saying, “We aim at laying a strong foundation of brotherhood.”
Saruhan stated that there are some groups that intend to cause dissension between Sunni and Alevi communities. Noting that he and his partners work for unification, Saruhan said: “Constructing a joint mosque-cemevi is a very brave step. It is also important because it was initiated by a suggestion from Fethullah Gülen, who is a prominent pundit of the modern-day."
Another businessman behind the project, Bayram Tarcan, said: “We have undertaken the expenses of this project, working hand in hand with our Sunni brothers. The project indeed will show both communities how much we have in common.”
Tarcan stated that the businessmen received many phone calls from Alevi and Sunni figures offering financial support for the project. “This is very pleasing. It means current criticisms against the project only come from marginals, while grassroots groups support the project.”
Şaban Başdurak, who has a supermarket chain in Ankara, is also among the six businessmen supporting the project financially. Başdurak said he found the project exciting and described it as a solid attempt in terms of precluding a possible sectarian dispute. According to Başdurak, a mosque is not an alternative for a cemevi and it is true the other way around as well.
Another sponsor of the joint mosque and cemevi is industrialist Hüseyin Yörük. He said that housing a mosque and a cemevi in the same complex indicates profound tolerance of the Turkish public. Yörük stated that he wanted to build a society with no biases and conflict.
Published on Sunday's Zaman, 15 September 2013, Sunday