Demiralay to step down

Yaşar Demiralay, third from left, announced he would stand down at the next general meeting.

YAŞAR DEMİRALAY, head of Britain’s most influential Alevi community, is to step down at the end of his present term.

The leader of the Alevi Cultural Centre in Dalston only succeeded İsrafil Erbil in February, after Mr Erbil rose to the presidency of the British Alevi Federation.

“I have been a Cemevi director in various positions for five years. We need to give an opportunity to our other people,” Mr Demiralay said a meeting of members this week.

“There is nothing we cannot achieve so long as we move in unity and solidarity. Rather than conflicts with one another, let us fight our own problems.”

Mr Demirala said he would not be a candidate at the cultural centre’s next general meeting.

The meeting also discussed the ongoing construction of a new Cemevi for use as a centre for worship and community activities in Wood Green. Mr Demiralay said he hoped the construction would be completed in the shortest possible time and called on members to contribute to the latest campaign to finish the project.

It was also noted at the meeting that 322 students had so far registered in courses offered by the Cemevi.

Cultural centre members attended from all across London