### the alevi-bektasi religion
A special, Turkish form of Islam, where shaman traditions, Buddhist, zoroastrian, manichean and Christian elements mingle with the Muslim religion. Although they consider themselves Sunitan, they are closely tied to the Siita trend. The disorganised groups, which believe in slightly different doctrines anyway, are connected by the master, called Hadzsi Bektas Veli. From this religious trend, incorporating large crowds of people, the bektashi dervish order was formed at the beginning of the 16th century. Their most famous follower in the occupied regions was Gül Baba. SB