The Alevi-Bektashi community represents a unique and often marginalized branch of Islam practiced in Turkey and the Balkans. Rooted in a blend of Shia Islam, Sufism, and pre-Islamic traditions—including shamanistic and Zoroastrian elements—Alevi belief emphasizes spirituality, gender equality, education for women, and a deep respect for nature. Despite its rich heritage, the Alevi faith has long been subject to systematic marginalization in Turkey. Their houses of worship, known as cemevis, are still not officially recognized by the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs, reflecting their exclusion from the state’s Sunni-centric religious structure.
I began documenting Alevi culture in 2020 for the French magazine Sphères, where I photographed the annual Hacı Bektaş commemoration. Since then, I have continued to document Alevi communities and practices in Istanbul and Nevşehir. The goal of this project is to create a visual portrait of Anatolian Alevi women by photographing them in different cities and villages across Turkey. While the primary focus will be on Alevi women and the Semah ritual, I will also document the broader community, capturing their traditions and cultural practices through an ethnographic lens. I’m particularly drawn to this subject because of the community’s emphasis on gender equality and women’s empowerment—values I admire, but also wish to explore and question more deeply. The Semah ritual—performed during the Cem ceremony—is one of the few religious rituals in Islamic communities where men and women participate side by side, without segregation. Through this project, I aim to highlight the resilience, spirituality, and cultural richness of Alevi women, whose stories remain largely underrepresented.