The Letter Written by the Late Salih Yeşil to the Interior Minister, Hilmi Uran
Due to his writings being misunderstood and misinterpreted, for years the innocent Bediuzzaman Molla Said, who is genuine, sincere and harbours no aims other than Islam, has been forced to live in confinement. I am writing this private petition purely in the name of humanity, so that that innocent man may live in peace either where he is or on being moved to Ankara, and that he may receive recompense in his old age for the services he performed in his youth, which are now forgotten. I request your honoured self that you do not refuse this and read this petition in person. I offer my deepest respects and thanks.
Who Is Molla Said?
Molla Said, who at present is obliged to reside in the town of Emirdağ in Afyon Province, has lived since his birth among his Turkish brothers and has acquired the traits of the Turks. He fought as a voluntary militia commander in the snowy mountains of Caucasia during the Great War together with our heroic soldiers. He moved from place to place to give them guidance and was awarded the War Medal. He fought in the battle of Sarıkamış. He was wounded and fell prisoner at the fall of Bitlis, and suffered for years as a Russian prisoner‑of-war. He escaped, and on returning to Istanbul was appointed to the Darü'l-Hikmeti'l-islâmiye for his knowledge and learning. On the formation of the National Forces he urged the people to join the struggle, and coming to Ankara during the first year of the Parliament, performed services in the Hacı Bayram guest house explaining the necessity to many hesitant people of defending the country. Because the works this truly patriotic person has written primarily about worship, faith, and the tenets of belief do not conform to the regime and the approach of certain persons who dislike religion and religious people, especially the opportunist Şükrü Kaya, who at present occupies the post of interior minister, the unfortunate Molla Said has suffered the wretchedness of around twenty years' imprisonment and exile as a result of baseless accusations and false reports. Two years ago, on the pretext of those reports, handcuffs were clapped on his wrists and being taken from his torturous abode in Kastamonu, was sent to Denizli Prison together with sixty-six people whose sole crime was to have greeted him. His works, which were deemed so harmful, were scrutinized for months firstly by a committee in the Istanbul Mufti's office, then by a commission consisting of members of the Directorate of Religious Affairs and the Institute of Language and History, who could find not the slightest matter in any of his works that might infringe state policies or disturb public order. In consequence, having been imprisoned for eleven months, Molla Said, the Nur students, and those who had read his works were released on the order of the court. But although this elderly man had been permitted to reside in Denizli, a short time later he was sent away to Afyon and from there to the town of Emirdağ, where he was prevented from having contact with any of his Turkish brothers.
Respected Sir!
This elderly person has been deprived of the liberties recognised by the Republic and the Constitution. He is an Islamic thinker who, having no family or relatives, in every way deserves the protection and support of an Islamic government. According to what the famous late poet [Mehmed] Âkif Bey recounted, an article about Said entitled “Fatīn al‑'Aṣr (Genius of the Age)” published around twenty years ago in the newspaper al-Ahram by 'Abd al-'Aziz Chawish, a leading scholar of Egypt who knew several Western languages and was familiar with philosophy, was read by scholars there who had met him in person and appreciated his powerful knowledge and struggles in God's way.
Esteemed Sir!
Molla Said is by nature a lover of the Turks and a servant of Islam, yet he has suffered insult and been belittled as a Kurd. Society in our country will suffer no harm from him; rather, it will profit morally and spiritually. I testify on my honour that Molla Said is guiltless and a person of integrity. My request therefore in the name of humanity from far‑ seeing persons like yourself who have laid hands on the nation's government and destiny, is that
in conformity with the justice of government, your high office, and equity and generosity, justice be accorded this person who due to the malicious words of informers has been deprived of the bounty of freedom, of breathing fresh air, and of meeting with any of his Turkish brothers, and that at least once he be granted a meeting with good will. After this, whether you graciously rule on his remaining or on his departing, you will have performed your weighty duty within the law and will have added an admirable act to the record of your life. You will have shown your love of justice to the people and to free‑thinking historians like myself who have lost a leg and are now outside of politics.
One‑legged Yeşiloğlu Mehmed Salih, former deputy for Erzurum, who loves his nation and country more than his life, and who evinces not the slightest trace of Kurdish, Albanian, or Bosnian nationalism.