Turkish politics is experiencing a change as Ashoura — the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar — approaches (Nov. 14). On Nov. 10, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu dressed in black to reflect the mourning period of Ashoura when visiting Najaf and Karbala — considered holy cities in Shiite Islam — and Baghdad. He also paid a visit to the shrine of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. Davutoglu said, “Those who claim we are pro-Sunni should see me here now.” 

On Nov. 11, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a Muharram iftar (breaking of the fast for Alevis) — a ritual of public display that many prominent Alevis oppose. Erdogan's words — “My unborn grandson will be named Ali,” referring to Imam Ali, the prophet’s cousin and son-in-law — created uproar in social media. Erdogan’s advisers have been tweeting about Karbala, Imam Ali and Imam Hussein and mourning on the occasion of Ashoura over the last couple of days as well. We see a deep struggle within the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to mend bridges with “neighbors” and “Muslims other than Sunnis” and reset its Middle East policies.

As pundits start deliberating on the AKP’s U-turn in foreign and domestic politics, I have been particularly worried about a specific group of Syrian “guests” in Turkey: Syrian Alawites. Turkey signed the UN Refugee Convention of 1951, but reserves the right not to apply refugee status to “non-European” entities. The AKP has been referring to all Syrians as “our guests” and takes pride in providing good living conditions for Syrians refugees. The AKP often emphasizes how they have camps designed for each religious group. It is estimated that there are more than 600,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Syrian Alawites, referred to by AKP officials as Nusayris — a derogatory term not accepted by most Alevis in Turkey or Alawites in Syria — indeed can briefly be explained as follows. Some are Turkmen. They speak Turkish and have a good networking system with Alevi centers in Turkey. The second group, which is also known as "Assad’s sect," are the Arab Alawites. There are also Kurdish Alevis in Turkey. Throughout history, Alawites have faced persecution and have been referred to as kafirrun (unbeliever or heretic). This forced them to be inward-looking, close-knit groups, which prefer to preserve their traditions and beliefs in secrecy. Hence, their rituals differ. Yet, what unites them now may be stronger than before: the threat of radical Sunni Islamist militia — al-Qaeda offshoots, known mostly as Jabhat al-Nusra — which promises heaven to those who “spill Alawite blood.” Many Alawites have been uprooted from their homes in Syria. Syrian Alawites — unlike Kurds or Maronites — lack a Western-based diaspora to make their voices heard or reunite through family networks in times of political crisis.