Ali Kenanoğlu was born in 1971. He is among the founders and directors of several Alevi institutions, such as the Hacı Bektaş Veli Anatolian Culture Foundation, Hubyar Sultan Alevi Culture Association, Boğaziçi Alevi Culture Association and Alevi Bektashi Federation. He has attended several national as well as international platforms with presentations on state-religion affairs, Alevism and contemporary political issues. Kenanoğlu was elected as Istanbul MP from the HDP in the June 2015 elections. He regularly writes for the daily Evrensel.