Edinburgh’s Alevi Cultural Centre was opened on Monday, becoming the second Cemevi to be opened in Scotland.
A forty-strong delegation of from the British Alevi Federation held its monthly meeting in the new centre to mark the event.
The opening ceremony, which was held at The Brunton in Musselburgh, began with a moment of silence who shined a light on the path of the Alevi faith.
Among those attending the ceremony was local SNP councillor John Williamsow, Turkey’s Edinburgh consul Semih Lutfi Turgut and representatives of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party from Turkey.
The centre’s new president Zekeriya Armut was joined by Alevi Federation president İsrafil Erbil; Haydar Yılmaz of the Dalston Alevi Centre; İsmail Aslan from Sheffield Cemevi; Duran Aytaç from Nottingham; Oruç Çoban from Leicester; Ali Polat representing Glasgow; Özlem Şahin from the Alevi Women’s Association; Eylem Akkaya from the Youth Federation and Dilara Kaya from the Glasgow Youth group.
Speaking at the event, Mr Erbil said it was important for all Alevis to work together in unity and solidarity. He said it was a great source of price and honour that associations were emerging to represent Alevis in the northern parts of Britain.
He said the oppression experienced by Alevis in their own countries was not acceptable and thanked all Alevis for their efforts in fighting this.