Israfil Erbil
was born in 1972 in Maraş, Afşin. He moved to London with his family at the age of 15 in 1987 and started to work as a textile worker. He studied English for one year at Hackney College between 1989-90. Since 1990, he has been engaged in commercial activities with his family. Between 2009-2013, he was the president of England Alevi Cultural Center and Cemevi. In 2013 he became the founding president of the British Alevi Federation.