Abstract:

Alawi organization has taken various forms throughout the history. Alawi organization from past to present dargahs, tekkes, zawiyas, associations, foundations, cem and culture houses. Cem and cem houses have become a highly argued and disputed issue. In the past, Alawis and Bektashis assembled their conventions in sections of dargahs, tekkes and zawiyas called square houses or square chambers as rules and conventions locations. With closure of tekkes and zawiyas with the foundation of the Turkısh republic, Alawis and Bektashis executed their cem activities and other conventions at different places. After 1970’s, Alawis continued their executions at locations they named cem houses. Today, the cem house concept, its position in Alawi religious perception and their approval as houses of worship is being argued at various platforms. In this article, position of cem houses, worshipping houses in Islamic historical tradition, history, past and organization of cem house institution in Alawi tradition and approval for their worshipping house status will be discussed in detail. We will be putting an effort to approach the issue “status of cem houses” in Alawi religious approach, which is taken in the agenda of the country from time to time, basing on a certain historical-social background.

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