of the leading Nur students in Safranbolu, Hıfzı, one aged ten and the other eight, are writing out The Staff of Moses Collection and that they wrote a letter telling me they were about to finish it.

Thirdly: One reason for the grievous difficulties inflicted on me this winter was that they isolated me from everyone so that I should not assist in the liberal parties' smashing the absolute tyranny of the people from Salonica. But the Risale-i Nur speaks with thousands of tongues in my place, and demolishes disbelief and apostasy, and defeats anarchy. ∗∗∗

► (098) ◄ The Letter Written by the Late Salih Yeşil to the Interior Minister, Hilmi Uran

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