This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Turkey's Whirling Dervishes: Tradition Or A Tourists Trap
A Konya based feature on Turkey's Mevlevi dervishes highlights youths like 19 year old Erol Kucukbakirei who perform the sema as a form of prayer while tourists watch. The piece notes the 1925 ban on dervishes, later limited performances for tourism, and the tension between mystic practice and spectacle. It cites Selman Tuczun as the current Sunni leader and describes the ritual’s symbolism as the soul’s quest toward God amidst modern crowds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Erol
Tekkes
Effendi
Selman Tuczun
Tekke