#### Bediuzzaman Opposes an Autonomous Kurdistan

Bediuzzaman Opposes an Autonomous Kurdistan

Bediuzzaman's undergoing great inner changes at this time did not prevent him from combating the British occupying forces in whatever ways he could. Described above are some of his activities related to this in the Darü'l-Hikmet, the area of learning, and in various other fields. In addition, he opposed them openly in the press, above all warning against their intrigues in the field of politics and efforts to sow discord among the 'ulema. Before looking at this more closely though, another relevant subject concerning the British should be mentioned with which he was also concerned, and this was the question of Kurdistan.

It will be remembered that when allotting the spoils of the Ottoman Empire, Britain — and also France — had laid claim to the geographical region of Kurdistan and the oil-fields of Mesopotamia. In order to further its interests in the area, British plans included the setting-up of an autonomous Kurdistan, and provision for this was contained in the Treaty of Sévres. And so, following the war, the promise of autonomy was used by the British as a means of instigating the inhabitants of the area to rebel against Ottoman authority, and also, incidentally, to hamper the National Forces. A number of political societies with the same aim were founded at the same time, one of which was the Society for the Advancement of Kurdistan (Kürdistan Teâli Cemiyeti). [^347] Bediuzzaman was again approached in the hope of gaining his support and access to his considerable influence, but as before and after, he refused absolutely and condemned any action which would damage unity with the Turks. One of those who approached him was Seyyid Abdülkadir, the president of the above society. Bediuzzaman is reported to have given him this reply:

[^347]:See, T. Z. Tunaya, Türkiye'de Siyasal Partiler, ii, 186-229.

Almighty God says in the Holy Qur'an: "God shall produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him" (5:54). I pondered over this divine declaration and understood that the people mentioned is the Turkish nation, which for a thousand years acted as the standard-bearer of the Islamic world. I won't follow a few brainless racialists rather than serving this heroic nation, in place of four hundred and fifty million true Muslim brothers. [^348]

[^348]:Şahiner, Said Nursi, 216, quoted from Mustafa Polat, Mülakat, 37.

Necmeddin Şahiner quotes another passage from the same work, which, since it includes a firsthand description of Bediuzzaman besides illustrating further the point in question, we give it in full. It is related by Konsolidçi Asaf Bey, a well-known writer: