Introduction / History

The Alevi Kurds (specifically Kurmanji speakers, distinct from the Zaza) are a "double minority": marginalized as Kurds by the state, and as Alevis by the Sunni Kurdish majority. Historically concentrated in provinces like Maraş, Malatya, Adıyaman, and Sivas, they suffered brutally during massacres in the 1970s (e.g., the Maraş Massacre), which drove massive migration to Europe and Istanbul. Unlike their Turkish counterparts, their identity is deeply tied to resistance against the state. They often call their faith "Rêya Heqî" (The Path of Truth/God), emphasizing its ancient, potentially pre-Islamic (Zoroastrian/Mithraic) roots.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Their communities are fractured. Decades of assimilation policies forced many to lose their Kurmanji language; today, religious rituals are often conducted in Turkish because the younger generation dominates Turkish better than their mother tongue. They are highly politicized, often aligning with Kurdish freedom movements or leftist organizations, which creates friction with Alevi Turks. In the diaspora (Germany/UK), they are reclaiming their Kurdish identity, often refusing to use the term "Alevi" (which they see as an Islamic label) and preferring "Rêya Heqî".

What Are Their Beliefs?

While sharing the Cem ceremony and the reverence for the 12 Imams with their Turkish counterparts, Kurdish Alevi faith is far more nature-based and tribal. They emphasize Pir Sultan Abdal, a rebel bard executed by the state, as their primary symbol of resistance, often viewing the Turkish-revered Haji Bektash Veli with suspicion as a figure used by the state for assimilation. Their spirituality involves the direct veneration of nature, where sacred rocks, trees, and mountains (Jiare) are seen as manifestations of the divine, and Xızır (Khidr) is revered as an active "Grey Horseman" who helps in times of trouble, often eclipsing abstract theology. Leadership is strictly hereditary based on holy tribal lineages (Ocak), meaning one cannot "join" this path but must be born into it. A significant challenge is the "liturgy gap"; while their heart language is Kurmanji, they lack a standardized liturgy in that tongue, forcing them to worship in Turkish.

What Are Their Needs?

The Kurdish Alevi community is desperate for mother tongue restoration, needing spiritual resources and Deyiş (worship songs) in the specific Kurmanji dialects of Maraş and Malatya rather than standard Kurmanji or Turkish. They also carry deep psychological wounds from state-sponsored violence and massacres, creating a need for a Messiah presented as a "Suffering Servant" who identifies with their pain, rather than a "Conquering Sultan" which triggers historical trauma. Ultimately, they face a profound identity crisis, torn between being Kurdish, Alevi, and modern, and they need a spiritual identity that anchors them outside of mere political resistance.

Prayer Items

Pray for the creation of Deyiş (worship songs) and scripture materials in the specific Kurmanji dialect of the Maraş/Malatya regions.

Pray for healing of memories for families affected by the Maraş and Sivas massacres, that they would find justice and peace in the Cross.

Pray for the "Rêya Heqî" movement: as they distance themselves from Islam, pray they would not stop at secularism but find the Real "Path of Truth" (Jesus).

Pray for unity between Alevi Kurds and Sunni Kurds through Christ, breaking the "heretic" stigma that divides them.

Scripture Prayers for the Kurd, Alevi in Türkiye (Turkey).