A forum titled “Bektashism in Anatolia and the Balkans from History to the Present” was held in Hacıbektaş district of Nevşehir.
The event, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency and the Directorate of Communications, was held at Hacı Bektaş Veli Cultural Center.
Following the moment of silence, reading of the National Anthem and watching the short film, the messages of Derviş Ali Kerimoski from North Macedonia, Derviş Tomasso Parlanti from Italy and Baba Eliton Pashaj from the USA, who could not attend the program, were read.
Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi President Esma Ersin, in her speech, stated that the event was organized to discuss the bridge of wisdom extending from Anatolia to the Balkans, with its historical roots and future vision.
Emphasizing that Hacı Bektaş Veli is the undying torch of love, tolerance and unity, Ersin said that his universal messages have been revered in these lands for centuries.
Reminding that the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency was established in 2022, Ersin said, “Our Presidency set out to do justice to the title of ‘Bektashi’ that it proudly carries in its name and to serve exclusively this great path. We, as the Alevi-Bektashi Culture and Cemevi Presidency, are aware of the weight of the name we carry and the mission we undertake.” he said.
Stating that, as the Presidency, they organized various events in order to strengthen their ties with the Balkans on academic and cultural grounds, Ersin said:
“In order to convey the love of Ahl al-Bayt and our path to future generations from the most accurate sources, we recently had the pleasure of meticulously preparing the Hacı Bektaş Veli Velayetnamesi and bringing it into our cultural life. In order to preserve the memory of our path, we collected important resources about our faith and culture in the Kaygusuz Abdal Alevi-Bektashi Specialized Library under the roof of our Presidency and opened them to the service of our researchers who work in this field. I would like to express with all my heart that Bektashism “Our efforts to preserve, research and properly keep the culture alive will continue without slowing down, with the same meticulousness and much more intensity. This forum is an assembly to re-understand that ancient heritage that has filtered through the centuries, in the face of the challenges of our age, and to carry a stronger vision for the future and an unshakable will of unity.”
Stating that the way to preserve the law of unity and brotherhood is to meet in the light of conversation and common mind, Ersin added that protecting this heritage in Anatolia and the Balkans will enable the common future to be built on much stronger foundations.
The forum continued with sessions on “Historical and Sufi Roots: The Spread of Bektashism in Albania and the Balkans from Anatolia to the Balkans”, “Space, Culture and Will: Cultural Effects of Bektashi Lodges in the Balkans” and “Common Memory and Future Vision: The Role of Bektashism in the Development of Relations with the Balkans”.
