On the first day of 2026 at Bahçelievler Cemevi, Secretary General of the Alevi Federation of Turkey and President of Bahçelievler Cemevi Ufuk Emre Bektaş “We invite CHP Bahçelievler District Chairman Danış Akpolat, who insulted our place of worship by calling it a “Pirate Cemevi”, to apologize to the Alevi community and to come to terms.”.
We invite CHP Bahçelievler District Chairman Danış Akpolat, who insulted our place of worship by calling it “Pirate Cemevi”, to apologize to the Alevi community and to come to terms.
It is respectfully announced to all public opinion, Alevis and Alevi friends.Bahcelievler Cemevi pic.twitter.com/M3p0Hli8Qb
- Ufuk Emre Bektas (@ufukemrebektas) January 1, 2026
So far, CHP Bahçelievler District Chairman Danış Akpolat has not responded to Bektaş's call. However, Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed as CHP Istanbul Provincial Chairman by the court, made a statement and announced that the CHP Istanbul Provincial Executive will initiate a disciplinary process against Bahçelievler District Chairman Danış Akpolat.
In his statement, Tekin said, “The problems of Alevi citizens, which have been accumulating from past to present, cannot be ignored. It is the constitutional responsibility of the state to keep the values, traditions and customs of the Alevi community alive and to meet their faith-based needs. In this sense, public institutions and organizations are authorized.”.
Will be disciplined
Pointing out that the statements made by the CHP Bahçelievler District Chairman on the provision of facilities for cemevis by the Bahçelievler Municipality are absolutely incompatible with the sensitivity and responsibility that the CHP has demonstrated so far, Tekin concluded his statement as follows:
“Alevi faith cannot be used as a political tool in any way. Service to Cemevis is a requirement of CHP's principle of equality and freedom of belief. It is unacceptable for CHP Bahçelievler District Chairman Danış Akpolat to make statements that cause social discrimination by using hurtful and discriminatory language. This statement is incompatible with his duties and responsibilities in the CHP. For this reason, the CHP Istanbul Provincial Administration has deemed it compulsory to refer Bahçelievler District Chairman Danış Akpolat to the disciplinary board in accordance with the CHP Party Statute 68-b.”