Hüseyin Özbek recounts the story of martyr Second Lieutenant Kubilay: 'They martyred him for this purpose'

Second Lieutenant Mustafa Fehmi Kubilay and guards Hasan and Şevki were commemorated at the Sarıyer Imam Hüseyin Cemevi on the 93rd anniversary of their martyrdom. The commemoration began with a moment of silence for the martyred soldiers, followed by the singing of the National Anthem.

After a folk song performed by Hüseyin Yılmaz accompanied by a bağlama, Imam Hüseyin Cemevi President Musa Özcan and the President of the Association for Kemalist Thought, retired teacher Fahrettin Serdaroğlu, delivered opening speeches.

THE SHEIKH SAID REBELLION AND THE MENEMEN UPRISING

Subsequently, literature teacher, 12punto columnist, and former Vice President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) Attorney Hüseyin Özbek gave a speech on the significance of the day.

Özbek stated that there were two reactionary uprisings aimed at destroying the Republic of Turkey.

He said the first was the Sheikh Said rebellion, which began on February 13, 1925, and the other was the Menemen uprising, carried out by Derviş Mehmet and his followers on December 23, 1930.

"THEY MARTYRED KUBILAY FOR THIS PURPOSE"

Stating that opponents of the Republic, civilization, and secularism wanted to bring back the institutions of the caliphate and sultanate and a medieval way of life, and that they martyred Kubilay for this purpose, Özbek explained that the reactionary mentality is an enemy of progress and civilization.

Noting that various games are being played against Turkey, Özbek pointed out that the medieval mentality that wants to destroy the Republic of Turkey and establish a theocratic state and regime still persists. He emphasized that those who hold this anti-democratic and anti-rule-of-law understanding use the law as a tool. He added that they want to take revenge on the Republic, which abolished the caliphate and sultanate, by liquidating the regime of October 29, 1923, through law and the judiciary.

"ISTANBUL UNDER OCCUPATION..."

Özbek recalled that in the 1920s, three anti-National Struggle, pro-occupation associations were established in Istanbul, which was under occupation. He pointed out that these three associations, named the Society of Friends of England, the Society for the Rise of Kurdistan, and the Society for the Rise of Islam, were collaborationist, anti-National Struggle organizations founded with British support and British money.

Stating that the spiritual heirs of these three anti-Turkish associations, which were closed after the victory of the War of Independence, continue their activities under different names today, Özbek concluded his speech by emphasizing that it is the duty of every citizen to defend the integrity of the country and to protect the Republic, which is the legacy of Atatürk and the martyrs.

News Source: 12punto