Defining religion in secular Europe: Alevi recognition in Germany, France, and Austria

This article analyzes Alevi recognition in Europe through a comparative study of French, German, and Austrian secularism. It explores how secularism, as a legal and discursive system, reshapes religious spheres, practices, and identities by defining what qualifies as ‘religion’. The article shows that contemporary recognition regimes encourage Alevis to seek religious recognition and increasingly present themselves as a religion, even though many do not define Alevism as such, effectively (re)religionizing a community aligned with secular values. It further demonstrates that although all three paradigms are grounded in the separation principle, national frameworks push Alevis to adopt different forms of self-representation, self-imagination and institutionalization, either within Islam or as a distinct faith: Austria recognizes Alevis within Islam, Germany, as a separate belief community, and France does not grant religious recognition. The article highlights both the importance of local arrangements and the shared logic of secular governance that Alevis must navigate across contexts.