Sheikh Said of
Palu
Palu, which is officially known as the City of Palu (Indonesian: ''Kota Palu''), is the capital and largest city of Central Sulawesi. Palu is located on the northwestern coast of Sulawesi and borders Donggala Regency to the north and west, Pari ...
( ku, شێخ سەعید, translit=Şêx Seîd,
1865 – June 29, 1925) was a
Kurdish
Kurdish may refer to:
*Kurds or Kurdish people
*Kurdish languages
*Kurdish alphabets
*Kurdistan, the land of the Kurdish people which includes:
**Southern Kurdistan
**Eastern Kurdistan
**Northern Kurdistan
**Western Kurdistan
See also
* Kurd (dis ...
sheikh, the main leader of the
Sheikh Said rebellion and a Sheikh of the
Naqshbandi
The Naqshbandi ( fa, نقشبندی)), Neqshebendi ( ku, نهقشهبهندی), and Nakşibendi (in Turkish) is a major Sunni order of Sufism. Its name is derived from Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari. Naqshbandi masters trace their ...
order.
He was born in 1865 in
Palu
Palu, which is officially known as the City of Palu (Indonesian: ''Kota Palu''), is the capital and largest city of Central Sulawesi. Palu is located on the northwestern coast of Sulawesi and borders Donggala Regency to the north and west, Pari ...
to an influential family from the Naqshbandi order. He had five brothers. Still in his childhood, the family settled to
Hınıs,
Erzurum
Erzurum (; ) is a city in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. It is the largest city and capital of Erzurum Province and is 1,900 meters (6,233 feet) above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 367,250 in 2010.
The city uses the double-headed eagle as ...
, where his grandfather was an influential
Sheikh
Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...
.
Sheikh Said studied religious sciences at the
madrasa
Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , pl. , ) is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary instruction or higher learning. The word is variously transliterated '' ...
led by his father Sheikh Mahmud Fevzi as well from several Islamic scholars in the region.
Later he was involved in the local
tekke set up by his grandfather Sheikh Ali.
His grandfather was a respected leader of the religious community and his grave was visited by thousands of pilgrims. He became the head of the religious community after his father Sheikh Mahmud died. In 1907 he toured the neighboring provinces in the east and he established contacts with officers from the
Hamidiye cavalry
The ''Hamidiye'' regiments (literally meaning "belonging to Hamid", full official name ''Hamidiye Hafif Süvari Alayları'', Hamidiye Light Cavalry Regiments) were well-armed, irregular, mainly Sunni Kurdish but also Turkish, Circassian,Pal ...
.
Civata Xweseriya Kurd (Society for Kurdish Independence)
The
Azadî
The Azadî ( en, Freedom), officially (Society for Kurdish Freedom), later Civata Xweseriya Kurd (Society for Kurdish Independence) was a Kurdish secret organization. According to Kurds who reported to British intelligence officers, Azadî was es ...
(English: Freedom), officially Civata Azadiya Kurd (Society for Kurdish Freedom), later Civata Xweseriya Kurd (Society for Kurdish Independence) was a Kurdish secret organization.
In 1923, he was approached by Yusuf Zia Bey, who wanted him to join the
Kurdish
Kurdish may refer to:
*Kurds or Kurdish people
*Kurdish languages
*Kurdish alphabets
*Kurdistan, the land of the Kurdish people which includes:
**Southern Kurdistan
**Eastern Kurdistan
**Northern Kurdistan
**Western Kurdistan
See also
* Kurd (dis ...
secret organization
Azadî
The Azadî ( en, Freedom), officially (Society for Kurdish Freedom), later Civata Xweseriya Kurd (Society for Kurdish Independence) was a Kurdish secret organization. According to Kurds who reported to British intelligence officers, Azadî was es ...
. He became the leader of the Azadî after Zia Bey and
Halid Beg Cibran, the leader of the Azadî, were reportedly tipped off by the
Yörük tribe and arrested.
The Azadi was to become a leading force in the Sheikh Said Rebellion which began in February 1925 and starting from in
Piran
Piran (; it, Pirano ) is a town in southwestern Slovenia on the Gulf of Piran on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the three major towns of Slovenian Istria. The town is known for its medieval architecture, with narrow streets and compact houses. P ...
, soon spread as far as the surroundings of
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır (; ; ; ) is the largest Kurdish-majority city in Turkey. It is the administrative center of Diyarbakır Province.
Situated around a high plateau by the banks of the Tigris river on which stands the historic Diyarbakır Fortress, ...
. The Turkish army then opposed the rebellion and he was captured in mid-April 1925 after having been surrounded by the Turkish troops. He was condemned to death by the
Independence Tribunal in Diyarbakır on the 28 June 1925 and hanged the next day in
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır (; ; ; ) is the largest Kurdish-majority city in Turkey. It is the administrative center of Diyarbakır Province.
Situated around a high plateau by the banks of the Tigris river on which stands the historic Diyarbakır Fortress, ...
with 47 of his followers.
His remains were buried in an anonymous mass grave in order to prevent his memorization by the
Kurds ug:كۇردلار
Kurds ( ku, کورد ,Kurd, italic=yes, rtl=yes) or Kurdish people are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia, which spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Ir ...
.
Family
His first wife was Amine Hanim, who died during the
Russian-Turkish war
The Russo-Turkish wars (or Ottoman–Russian wars) were a series of twelve wars fought between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire between the 16th and 20th centuries. It was one of the longest series of military conflicts in European histor ...
. His second wife was Fatma Hanim, a sister of
Halit Beg Cibran, the leader of the Azadî.
His son Abdülhalik died after his deportation following the Sheikh Said rebellion. His grandson
Abdülmelik Fırat
Abdülmelik Fırat (1934, Erzurum – 29 September 2009, Ankara) was a prominent Turkish- Kurdish politician. He was the grandson of Sheikh Said, leader of the 1925 Sheikh Said rebellion.
Early life and education
His grandfather Sheikh Said w ...
became a deputy of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey ( tr, ), usually referred to simply as the TBMM or Parliament ( tr, or ''Parlamento''), is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Consti ...
. Fırat says that his ancestors were not involved in politics until his grandfather, for they had cordial relations with the Ottoman elite.
The actress
Belçim Bilgin
Belçim Bilgin (born 31 January 1983) is a Turkish actress of Kurdish origin.
Life
She was born in Ankara, Turkey on 31 January 1983. She is the great grand niece of Sheikh Said who is known for the Sheikh Said Rebellion. According to her sta ...
is his great-grandniece.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Said, Sheikh
1865 births
1925 deaths
People from Hınıs
Turkish Sunni Muslims
Sheikh Said rebellion
Kurdish nationalists
Executed Turkish people
People executed by Turkey by hanging
People executed for treason against Turkey
20th-century executions for treason
20th-century executions by Turkey
Kurdish Sufi religious leaders