Bektashism, with its unique philosophy, has been a sect that has been viewed with suspicion by other Islamic groups, especially the Sunni Ulema, and accused of activities contrary to Islamic tradition. The Ottoman rulers, on the other hand, were confronted with the complex role of Bektashis in the empire. While they used Bektashism as a means of strengthening state authority in the early periods, they restricted it to a narrow field [military] in the later periods as the Sunni understanding gained strength in the bureaucracy. With the prohibition of Bektashism, the institutional structure dependent on the state authority was dismantled and Bektashism was persecuted in every field. With the Islamism policy of the Abdülhamid II period, the pressure and measures increased even more. In the atmosphere of the period, the negative view of Bektashis evolved into different debates. One of these debates was the accusation that Bektashis were engaged in Christianisation and Christianising the population. In addition, Western researchers looking for traces of Christianity in the Balkans also approached the Bektashis from this perspective and endeavoured to base their claims on various grounds, considering them to be secret Christians. In our study, the historical background from the Bektashi image, which was gradually shaken in the Ottoman Empire, to the allegations of Christianisation against them will be given and these debates will be analysed.
Bektashi, Sunni, Abdulhamid II, Christian, religious interaction, orientalism, Balkans and Anatolia.