Twelver Shi‘a in Turkey

Abstract Despite their historical and sizable presence in parts of the country, Twelver Shi‘a Muslims, or Caferis, are practically absent from the scholarly literature on religion in Turkey. As a predominantly Turkish-speaking Muslim community, albeit a denominational minority, Shi‘a are not officially recognized by the Turkish state. They have therefore faced barriers to the construction and management of their own mosques and public expressions of religious difference. This chapter provides an overview of Twelver Shi‘a in Turkey over the last century, tracing the ways the community has navigated its position in the Turkish public sphere vis-à-vis the state and other religious groups. It also provides insight into Shi‘i piety and religious life by ethnographically highlighting sensory-aesthetics forms and practices of devotion to the Family of the Prophet (Ehl-i Beyt), a distinguishing feature of Twelver Shi‘i religiosity.