Suddenly two plain-clothes police arrived and told Bediuzzaman's students that they had to get ready to leave and return to Isparta. These were joined by eleven or so others. They informed Bediuzzaman, who declared:

"How strange! I came here to die, and perhaps I will die. You can see my condition, you defend me!"

They replied that they had their orders and brought Hüsnü together with the car round to the front of the hotel. The hotel manager began protesting at his guest being treated in this way. The crowd became excited, and started shouting and protesting, The situation became very tense. The police could no longer enter the hotel. Then the car disappeared and the crowd calmed down a little. The people continued to visit Bediuzzaman.

The police insisted, saying the order came directly from the Interior Minister in Ankara, Namık Gedik, and was final. Bediuzzaman would be sent by ambulance if they did not take him by car. His students said it simply was not possible, and in any event, it was not up to them to relay police orders to him. The heated exchanges continued in this vein. Telegrams were sent to Menderes. Hundreds of telegrams passed between Ankara and Urfa that day. The people declared they would not let Bediuzzaman go.

The news spread that Bediuzzaman was going to be expelled from Urfa. The president of the Urfa branch of the Democrat Party heard, and going straight to the police headquarters, told the police chief in the strongest terms that Bediuzzaman was their honoured guest and that there was no question of his being treated in this way. The argument continued and the Democrat Party president banged his revolver down on the police chief's desk, making it plain that if they were to resort to force, the police would have to dispose of him first.

Meanwhile a crowd of five or six thousand gathered outside the hotel. The Democrat Party president brought the government doctor, who examined Bediuzzaman. He had a temperature of 40°. The doctor pronounced him unfit to travel, and said a general report would be made out the following day.

It was now Tuesday evening. Bediuzzaman's students were taking it in turns to remain with him. They were all exhausted. Bayram slept for two hours, then Zübeyir woke him up; he could not keep going any longer. Then Hüsnü went and joined Zübeyir and Abdullah Yeğin. Only Bayram was left. He stayed with Bediuzzaman. The door was locked against any possible intrusion. Bediuzzaman was running a high temperature and was feverish. He could no longer speak. He had wanted some ice during the day, but they had been unable to find any. Later they found some, but he had not wanted it. His lips were parched. Bayram wiped them with a damp