was in Istanbul, Bediuzzaman stayed first in the Akşehir Palas Hotel, close to the court in Sirkeci then he moved to the Reşadiye Hotel in the Fatih district. During his stay he was visited by a constant flood of visitors; hundreds of old friends and acquaintances, Risale-i Nur Students, some well-known figures, and many others, including large numbers of young people. The three court hearings — and particularly the second and third — attracted literally thousands. Once again the trial served to publicize Bediuzzaman and the Risale-i Nur movement in a way those who had instigated it can scarcely have wished.

The courtroom and corridors were filled to overflowing for the first hearing. The indictment and experts' report were read then Bediuzzaman was questioned. The matters with which he was accused by the report in regard to A Guide for Youth demanded a prison sentence of five years and included matters additional to exploiting religion for political purposes, such as, "supporting religious education", "encouraging Islamic dress and conduct for women", and "attempting to acquire personal prestige and influence." [^20] Three Istanbul lawyers undertook Bediuzzaman's defence for the trial. Following his reply, the court was adjourned till 19 February at 2 o'clock.

[^20]:Nursi, Müdâfaalar, 477-80.

In addition to this trial, Bediuzzaman was questioned concerning a part of A Guide for Youth that appeared in the magazine Volkan, but since the work had been acquitted by Denizli Court in 1943, in this case the decision was taken that retrial was not permissible. [^21]

[^21]:Eşref Edip, Said Nursi, 123.

The news had got around by 19 February and from an early hour hundreds of well-wishers and Bediuzzaman's students started to fill the court building in order to see him and follow the proceedings. By the time he and the lawyers and judges arrived the crowd was so dense inside the court that in the courtroom itself, the spectators had occupied even the space round the judges' bench, while outside the building the buses could not pass for the throng and were re-routed. [^22] In the court the police seemed incapable of doing anything, neither was any attention paid to the judge when he ordered the crowd out. It was not till at the judge's request, Bediuzzaman turned and made a sign that the crowd moved back out of the room and the trial could begin. [^23]

[^22]:M. Emin Birinci, in Son Şahitler, i, 258.

[^23]:See also, Muhiddin Yürüten, in Son Şahitler, iii, 80-1; Dr. Alaeddin Yılmaztürk, in Son Şahitler, ii, 45-6.