The work of Seyyid Derviş Tur Dede on Alevism, religious services, writing and Alevi organisation in Europe has featured in newspapers, television programmes, institutional archives and academic research. This page brings together verifiable press, media, book and scholarly records so that readers can go directly to the sources.
Newspapers, magazines and interviews
Hürriyet – 25 January 1991
In the interview headlined “Aleviler örgütleniyor” (“The Alevis are organising”), Derviş Tur, then chairman of the Federation of Alevi Communities, spoke about the organisation of the Alevis in Germany, religious and cultural work for children and young people, cemevis (Alevi houses of worship) and demands for freedom of belief. Facsimile: Seyit Derviş Tur, “Avrupa’da İlk Alevi Yapılanması”, 2016, Documents 27 and 27/1.
Milliyet – 27 May 1990
Milliyet reported on the founding of the Federation of Alevi Communities (the forerunner of today’s AABF), formed in 1990 in Rüsselsheim through the union of associations. Facsimile: Seyit Derviş Tur, “Avrupa’da İlk Alevi Yapılanması”, 2016.
Milliyet – 17 and 22 May 1991
The reports “Köln’de şeriat çığlıkları” (“Cries for sharia in Cologne”) and “Alevilerden tepki” (“Reaction from the Alevis”), published in Milliyet, carried the public statement of the federation chaired by Derviş Tur. Facsimile: Seyit Derviş Tur, 2016, Documents 41 and 41/1.
Milliyet – 28 October 1997
In the article “Dönemecin Eşiğinde: Aleviler (11) – Yeni nesil uğruna” (“At the Turning Point: The Alevis (11) – For the Sake of the New Generation”), Derviş Tur is introduced as chairman of the Council of Dedes of the Federation of Alevi Communities in Europe and as one of the witnesses of the early period of organisation. The report discusses the reasons for founding the associations, the development of the federation and the role of the dedes in the community.
Read the Milliyet article
Anadolu Agency – 23 June 2013
In its report “Seyit Derviş Tur’dan ‘Oyuna gelmeyin’ çağrısı” (“Seyit Derviş Tur’s call: ‘Don’t be taken in’”), Anadolu Agency introduced him as one of the Alevi community leaders descended from the Baba Mansur lineage. The report quotes his statements on peace, common sense, Alevi–Sunni brotherhood and the recognition of cemevis.
Read the Anadolu Agency report
Interview with Ayhan Aydın
The comprehensive interview published by the writer and researcher Ayhan Aydın presents, in Seyit Derviş Tur’s own words, his life, the dede tradition, his understanding of Alevism, his experience of organisation in Germany and his work on his books.
Read the interview
Publik-Forum – author profile
The German-language publication Publik-Forum publishes an author profile of Seyit Derviş Tur. This entry is an independent source on his publishing activity in the German-speaking public sphere.
Publik-Forum author profile
Writers’ Festival – Didim, 2023
Mavi Didim reported on Seyit Derviş Tur’s participation in the 2023 Writers’ Festival, where he presented his books to readers.
Read the Mavi Didim report
The programme “Anadolu İrfanının Eğitime Katkıları” (“The Contributions of Anatolian Wisdom to Education”) – 2025
Alevi Haberleri reported on Seyit Derviş Tur Dede’s speech at the programme under the headings of Anatolian Alevism, Islam, education and social unity.
Read the report · Watch the speech on YouTube
Television and video
TRT Haber – “Ömür Dediğin” (What We Call a Life), Episode 108
The episode “Zöhre – Derviş Tur / İzmir” of TRT Haber’s documentary series “Ömür Dediğin” is about the life of Seyyid Derviş Tur Dede and his wife Zöhre Tur.
Watch the episode on YouTube
Institutional and bibliographic records
- AABF institutional history archive: Biography of Derviş Tur
- German National Library (DNB/GND): Authority record for Seyit Derviş Tur
- VIAF international authority record: VIAF 311191694
- Wikidata: Q136967204
Book and library records
Seyit Derviş Tur’s works such as Avrupa’da İlk Alevi Yapılanması (The First Alevi Organisation in Europe), Erkânname and İmam Rıza Türbesi Ziyaretim ve İran Anılarım (My Visit to the Shrine of Imam Reza and My Memories of Iran) are listed in book catalogues and library records.
- Avrupa’da İlk Alevi Yapılanması – catalogue record
- Erkânname – catalogue record
- İmam Rıza Türbesi Ziyaretim ve İran Anılarım – catalogue record
- Erkânname – German book record
For all works and their descriptions, see the Books page.
Seyit Derviş Tur in academic research
- Martin Sökefeld, “Sind Aleviten Muslime? Aspekte einer Debatte unter Aleviten in Deutschland”, EthnoScripts, 2005. The study discusses Derviş Tur’s role in the early period of the Alevi movement in Germany and his views on the place of Alevism within Islam. LMU Munich PDF
- Martin Sökefeld, study on Alevi dedes in the German diaspora. LMU Munich PDF
- Zeynel Gül, “Almanya’da Alevi örgütlenmesi üzerine kısa bir bakış” (“A brief look at Alevi organisation in Germany”), Folklor/Edebiyat, 2002. PDF
- Burak Gümüş, research on Karbala and the Alevi politics of memory, 2008. PDF
- Markus Dressler and the research literature: a study on Alevi rituals and their transformations in Germany in the open-access repository of the University of Halle. PDF
- Bülent Keleş, “The History of the Alevis in Germany, which Began in 1961”, SÜREK, 2024. “Avrupa’da İlk Alevi Yapılanması” is cited as a source. DergiPark
- Alevipedia: the institutionalisation of the Alevis in Germany. Turkish article · German article
On the use of these sources
This list has been compiled to document Seyit Derviş Tur’s public life story and his work in the field of Alevism with independent sources. The assessments in external links are the responsibility of the respective publications.
See also: Biography · Alevism · Books · Videos · Deutsch
Translated from the Turkish original by Seyit Derviş Tur.