Women in Alevitism

Reader comment on item: Alevi Identity: Cultural, Religious and Social Perspectives

Submitted by Huizen Alevi (OY) (Netherlands), Jun 18, 2005 at 02:13

Dear Sir,

I am a member of the Huizen Alevi Community in Holland. I entered the Daniel pipes page by coinsidence because a Dutch guy send us an email claiming Mr. Daniel Pipes has written that Alevi's believe women have no soul!!
This is very surprisingly. First of all, any living soul has a soul, right? At least that's what I believe.
Secondly, it seems that this has been claimed in writing an article about the Alawis in Syria rather than Turkey. The Anatolian Alevis (Turkey) totally differ from those in Syria and the Sjii's in Iran. The only common point which they have is Ali (the source of Alevitism) but execution of this "believe" is totally differen in the 3 countries.

As for Alevism in Turkey, they have solved the man/woman issue already 1400 years ago. In the Anatolian Alevism the women have AT LEAST the same rights as man do and in some cases the woman has more rights because she is respected.

Alevism respects any believe and living soul and nature in the world as long as no violance is used.

Kind regards
Huizen Alevi

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Daniel Pipes replies:

yes, you will find that reference to the `Alawis of Syria, quite distinct from the Alevis of Turkey, at "The Alawi Capture of Power in Syria." Middle Eastern Studies 25 (1989): 429-50.

DP