The dilemma of remaining in between : Case of Arab Alawitas in Turkey

Arab Alawitas are forming an ethnic group spread over Turkey, Syria and Lebanon mainly. This ethnic group has been prone to many practices of social exclusion for centuries, due to their distinct way of understanding and adjusting religion to their own community. Exclusionary practices by the dominant groups led this community to live a sacred life.  Whilst they consider themselves as Muslims, at the same time their beliefs were affected by some other both semitic and ancient rituals & religions. This situation basically caused them to partly feel or pretend as both outsiders and insiders within the society they live. Their case shows differences in different contexts for instance. For example although in all three mentioned countries they are not forming the dominant group, they are in the head of the state in Syria. This research, on the other hand, focuses on the case of Arab Alawitees in Turkey. The situation of Arab Alawitas in Turkey is an example of double jeopardy because of their both Arab and Alawita identity. Both of these identities are seen as problematic and degrading by the dominant Turkish groups. The qualitative analysis of both the perceptions and experiences of Arab Alawitas in Hatay region of Turkey is employed to understand to what extent this group of people is subject to exclusion because of their ethnic origin. The data derived from the in-depth interviews with Arab Alawites in this region will be presented with special attention given to how this group remains in between within the Turkish society.