More than 500 Alevi organizations of the Turkish state and around the world supported the initiative to adopt “Alevism” as their own faith in Austria. The joint statement reads: “This decision is a great achievement for the Alevi community, whose faith is being persecuted in its homeland, is considered a forbidden faith, is under threat of assimilation, is subject to a state decision to participate in compulsory religious courses”. The initiative organizations stated that as a result of their 13-year legal struggle, the Austrian State approved this proposal and accepted “Alevism” as a faith inherent in this national minority, which they welcomed with enthusiasm.