As the world marks the 100th anniversary of the execution of Sheikh Said of Palu and his 47 companions, Muslims across the globe are gathering to honor a defining moment in Islamic resistance history.

On June 29, 1925, Sheikh Said, a revered Islamic scholar, Naqshbandi Sufi leader, and descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was executed alongside fellow scholars by the Turkish Republic’s Independence Tribunal in Diyarbakır. Their deaths followed a courageous uprising in 1925 aimed at preserving Islam in the face of an aggressive secularization campaign that sought to erase the region’s religious and cultural heritage.

A Spiritual Stand Against Secular Nationalism

The roots of the uprising trace back to the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1924, a seismic event that dismantled a centuries-old symbol of Islamic unity across diverse ethnicities. For the Kurdish Muslims of eastern Anatolia, who had long upheld the Caliphate and Islamic jurisprudence, this abolition was not merely administrative—it was a profound spiritual and cultural betrayal. Under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s vision for a modern, Western-modeled Turkey, the young republic launched a series of reforms that systematically marginalized Islam. Madrasas were shuttered, the Ministry of Religious Endowments was dismantled, the Arabic call to prayer (adhan) was banned, and Islamic scholars and writers faced censorship or imprisonment.

Sheikh Said, a prominent figure from Elazığ province, was no ordinary leader. As the chief of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order in eastern Anatolia, he was a scholar of Qur’anic sciences, a teacher of taqwa (God-consciousness), and a practitioner of tasawwuf (spiritual purification). His influence extended beyond his immediate community, earning him respect among Kurds, Turks, Sunnis, and Zazas alike. Recognizing the existential threat to the Muslim ummah, Sheikh Said resolved to act when the state’s secular policies began suffocating religious life.

The Spark of Rebellion

The uprising began in February 1925 in the village of Dicle, near Diyarbakır, following an incident that encapsulated the tensions of the time. Gendarmerie soldiers reportedly harassed women during a tribal wedding, prompting local youth to retaliate. When the military demanded Sheikh Said’s assistance in identifying the young men involved, he refused, citing the need to protect tribal unity and prevent unjust bloodshed. The state branded his defiance as rebellion, setting the stage for a broader confrontation.

On February 13, 1925, Dicle became the first battleground of what would grow into a widespread Islamic insurrection. From the pulpit of the Piran Mosque, Sheikh Said delivered a powerful sermon condemning the closure of Islamic institutions, the secularization of the state, and the growing hostility toward religious scholars. His call to action resonated deeply, uniting Muslim leaders across ethnic lines—Kurdish, Turkish, Sunni, and Zaza—in a shared mission to defend Sharia and religious freedom.

The Uprising Gains Momentum

The movement quickly gained traction. Supported by respected tribes such as Mistan, Botan, and Mhallami, Sheikh Said’s forces captured several towns in eastern Anatolia, including parts of Elazığ and Muş. Another uprising, led by Sheikh Abdullah, surged toward Muş from Varto, while Sheikh Sharif briefly liberated Elazığ. The campaign’s high point came on March 7–8, 1925, when Sheikh Said’s forces launched a full-scale siege on Diyarbakır, a key stronghold of the Kemalist regime in the east. With the help of local Kurdish Muslims, parts of the city were infiltrated, challenging the government garrison under Mürsel Pasha.

Though the siege ultimately failed due to heavy resistance and logistical challenges, it sent a resounding message: the people of Anatolia had not acquiesced to the erasure of their faith. Sheikh Said’s forces withdrew strategically, but their resolve remained unbroken. The uprising exposed the depth of discontent among Muslims who saw their religious identity under siege.

A Brutal Response

The Turkish Republic’s response was swift and severe. Martial law was declared across the region, and the Independence Tribunals, established to suppress dissent, prosecuted over 7,000 individuals. More than 600 were executed, hundreds of villages were razed, and countless families were exiled. The “Şark Islahat Raporu” (Reform Report for the East), introduced later in 1925, formalized policies of ethnic and cultural assimilation, targeting Kurds and Muslims under the guise of Turkish nationalism. The Arabic adhan was banned, madrasas were permanently closed, and imams were silenced, reshaping Anatolia into a homogenized, secular state.

The execution of Sheikh Said and his 47 companions on June 29, 1925, marked the culmination of this crackdown. Sentenced by the Independence Tribunal the previous day, Sheikh Said was the first to face the gallows. His final moments, though not fully documented, are believed to have included a recitation of the shahada, affirming his submission to Allah until his last breath.

A Lasting Legacy

A century later, the legacy of Sheikh Said and his companions endures. The Naqshbandi Order, which he led, continues to thrive in parts of the Muslim world, from Turkey to Central Asia and beyond. His uprising is remembered not as a mere rebellion but as a sacred stand for Islamic principles in an era of unprecedented state-driven secularism. For many, it represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle between faith and state power, between tawheed (divine unity) and tyranny.

Commemorative events today spanned the globe, with significant gatherings in Diyarbakır, Istanbul, and Kurdish diaspora communities in Europe and the Middle East. In Diyarbakır, thousands attended prayers at the historic Ulu Mosque, followed by lectures and panel discussions on Sheikh Said’s life and the relevance of his resistance. Community leaders emphasized the importance of preserving Islamic identity through education, dialogue, and peaceful advocacy in the modern age.

As the centennial of the 1925 uprising is commemorated, Muslims are urged to look beyond historical recounting and embrace the spirit of Sheikh Said’s resistance. His life underscores the duty to resist injustice with dignity, to prioritize Allah’s law, and to foster unity across ethnic and cultural divides. From Istanbul to London, community organizers are calling for renewed commitment to Islamic education, interfaith dialogue, and the protection of religious freedoms.

In a poignant moment during today’s events in Diyarbakır, a young Naqshbandi scholar recited a prayer for Sheikh Said and his companions, asking Allah to accept their martyrdom and grant them Jannah. The crowd, visibly moved, echoed with amens, a testament to the enduring power of their sacrifice.

As the Muslim world looks to the future, Sheikh Said’s legacy serves as both a reminder and a rallying cry: to stand firm in faith, to resist oppression with intellect and spirituality, and to ensure that the values of Islam remain a guiding light for generations to come. (ILKHA)