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. [^54] 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-

[^54]:Being students of the Risale-i Nur, thousands of worthy Turkish youths, children, and old people have hastened this strange age to defend Islam just like the Turkish nation hastened to its aid on the collapse of the 'Abbasid state. All lovers of truth applaud this fact, not just Said, and love the Turks. [Author]