Metin Yüksel
Encyclopedia
Metin Yüksel (July 17, 1958 - February 23, 1979), was a Kurdish Islam
ic political and social activist from Turkey
. One of the main leaders of Turkey's Islamist movement during the 1970s, he also led the Akıncılar Organization, a Islamist political organization.
city of Bitlis
. Little is known about his early life outside of his family's religious devotion, a characteristic which Yüksel would carry with him throughout his short life. His father, Mullah Sadreddin, was a well known and well respected Kurdish
religious scholar, famous amongst Turkey's religious, and infamous amongst the ruling secular elite, for his political and social work.
at an early age. Inspired by the ideas of his father and others, Yüksel quickly became active in the burgeoning political Islam movements which emerged in the early 1950s, following the onset of the multi-party period in the late 1940s.
Asides from his political work, Yüksel also founded and led Akıncılar, a charity and social welfare organization most prominent in the eastern Turkey, but existing throughout the country.
On February 23, 1979, while leaving Friday prayers, Yüksel was shot dead outside Istanbul
's Fatih Mosque
by ultra-nationalist gunmen. He was 21-years-old.
, Yüksel became a hero and martyr
to all of Turkey's Islamic factions. His assassination led Turkey's political Muslims to declare February as 'Şehit', or Martyr, month.
Every year on the anniversary of his death, devout Muslims from all over Turkey make pilgrimage to the spot where he was assassinated, in the yard of Fatih Mosque. It is common for them to hoist banners remembering him and paint red the spot where he fell.
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic political and social activist from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. One of the main leaders of Turkey's Islamist movement during the 1970s, he also led the Akıncılar Organization, a Islamist political organization.
Early life
Yüksel was born on July 17, 1958 in the eastern AnatolianEastern Anatolia Region
The Eastern Anatolia Region is one of seven non-administrative subdivisions of Turkey and encompasses its eastern provinces.The region and the name "Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi" were first defined at the First Geography Congress in 1941. It has the highest average altitude, largest geographical area, and...
city of Bitlis
Bitlis
Bitlis is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include...
. Little is known about his early life outside of his family's religious devotion, a characteristic which Yüksel would carry with him throughout his short life. His father, Mullah Sadreddin, was a well known and well respected Kurdish
Kurds in Turkey
Ethnic Kurds compose a significant portion of the population in Turkey . Unlike the Turks, the Kurds speak an Indo-European language...
religious scholar, famous amongst Turkey's religious, and infamous amongst the ruling secular elite, for his political and social work.
Activism
Growing up during the turbulent 1960s and 70s, a period of near-anarchy and daily bloodshed amongst Turkey's political factions, Yüksel began his activismActivism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
at an early age. Inspired by the ideas of his father and others, Yüksel quickly became active in the burgeoning political Islam movements which emerged in the early 1950s, following the onset of the multi-party period in the late 1940s.
Asides from his political work, Yüksel also founded and led Akıncılar, a charity and social welfare organization most prominent in the eastern Turkey, but existing throughout the country.
Assassination
Though the political Muslims of the day endeavored to steer clear of the bloodletting between nationalist and Marxist factions, many of them lost their lives nonetheless.On February 23, 1979, while leaving Friday prayers, Yüksel was shot dead outside Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
's Fatih Mosque
Fatih Mosque
The Fatih Mosque or Conqueror's Mosque in English) is an Ottoman imperial mosque located in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. It was one of the largest examples of Turkish-Islamic architecture in Istanbul and represented an important stage in the development of classic Turkish...
by ultra-nationalist gunmen. He was 21-years-old.
Legacy
Following his assassinationAssassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
, Yüksel became a hero and martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
to all of Turkey's Islamic factions. His assassination led Turkey's political Muslims to declare February as 'Şehit', or Martyr, month.
Every year on the anniversary of his death, devout Muslims from all over Turkey make pilgrimage to the spot where he was assassinated, in the yard of Fatih Mosque. It is common for them to hoist banners remembering him and paint red the spot where he fell.
See also
- List of assassinated people from Turkey