The Role of the Bektāshīs in Turkey's National Struggle

Book excerpt: Dealing with the roles of the Bektāshīs in Turkey's recent history, especially in its National Struggle (1918-1923) as well as their situation in late 19th and early 20th centuries Ottoman Empire, this volume is packed with well documented historical information on individuals who belonged or claimed to belong to the Bektāshī milieu, and contains many documents and several pictures hitherto unknown. It also treats the roles of the other Sufi orders in the National Struggle to emphasize its thesis that the Bektāshīs acted not differently during the National Struggle. It sheds lights on many unknown aspects of Turkey's National Struggle and brings new commentaries on Turkey's official policies regarding the Bektāshīs and Alevis.