Martin van Bruinessen, while still using the term ‘Kurdish Alevis’ is at pain to explain that this is mere ‘Shorthand’ which ‘does not imply any claim that they are "really" or "essential" Kurds or whatever’ (Van Bruniessen, 1996b: 4). Elsewhere, the same author writes how, despite attempts by both the Turkish state and Kurdish nationalists to foist politically - convenient identities on them, the ‘Kurdish Alevis’ (Zaza - Kizilbash) while not unsympathetic to the plight of Kurds, cling to their own separate identity: ‘Many if not most of the Kurdish Alevis define themselves as Alevis first, and Kurdish only second if at all’ (van Bruniessen, 1966a: 10).
Shahid Ayatullah Mutahhari amemfananisha Imam Khomeini pamoja na Sayyidna Ali bin Abi Talib AS kwa ushujaa wa Kiislamu, busara na ucha Mungu. Wote wale waliopata fursa ya kuonana na Imam Khomeini wanakubaliana na maoni hayo. Kitabu hiki ambacho kinajulikana kwa jina la Utawala wa Faqihi (Wilayate Faqih) au Serikali ya Kiislamu (Hukumate Islami) ni kitabu maarufu kabisa cha Imam Khomeini.