What is Kurdish Alevism?
{{confusing|date=January 2025}} {{wikify|date=December 2023}} '''Kurdish Alevism''' (Zaza: ''Elewiyina''; Kurdish: ''Elewîtî'') refers to the unique rituals, sacred place practices, mythological discourses and socio-religious organizations among Kurds who adhere to Alevism, an heterodox tradition within Islam. Kurdish Alevism is monotheistic, just like all of Islam, but also have strong elements of veneration to nature and ancestor. Kurdish Alevis constitute an important part of the Alevi population and form the majority of Tunceli Province in Turkey. The Kurdish Alevi population has experienced religious and ethnic discrimination, oppression and forced assimilation which have significantly impacted their identity. == Demographics == In Turkey, different estimations exist on the Kurdish Alevi population. While Dressler stated that about one third of the Alevi population is Kurdish,{{sfn|Dressler|2008}} Aksüt argued in 2015 that a majority of the Alevi population is Kurdish.{{Sfn|Gezik|2021|p=562}} Tunceli Province is the only Kurdish Alevi-majority province in Turkey.{{Sfn|Gültekin|2019|page=4}} Moreover, there are Kurdish Alevi settlements in the provinces of Adıyaman,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|pages=213–264}} Ardahan,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=277}} Bingöl,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=228}} Çorum,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=277}} Elazığ,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|pages=239–261}} Erzincan,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=223}} Erzurum,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=236}} Gaziantep,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=225}} Gümüşhane,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=229}} Kahramanmaraş,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=236}} Kayseri,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=234}} Malatya,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|pages=235–239}} Muş,{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=224}} Sivas{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=233}} and Yozgat.{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=275}} Outside of Turkey, there are Kurdish Alevis in Afrin, Syria.{{Sfn|Aksüt|2012|page=222}} The majority of Kurdish Alevis speak Zaza language, the others speak Kurmanji, one of the Kurdish languages, or speak both languages.{{Sfn|Gültekin|2019|p=9}} == Structure == Traditionally, the socio-religious structu