İhsan Hamit Tiğrel, One of the Leaders of Diyarbakır During the National Struggle

This study evaluates the developments in Diyarbakır during the National Struggle and the role of İhsan Hamit Bey in these developments. The aim of the study is to inform the reader about the activities of İhsan Hamit Bey during the National Struggle and the developments in Diyarbakır during that period. It has been determined that although İhsan Hamit Bey took part in important activities during the National Struggle, he is not sufficiently included in the historiography of the period. Shortly after the signing of the Armistice of Mondros, a branch of the Mudafaa-i Vatan Cemiyeti was opened in Diyarbakır, and thus the National Struggle process was initiated in Diyarbakır at an early period. Activities were carried out in the city against the separatist efforts of the British and the French against Diyarbakır and its surroundings, Turkish-Kurdish unity was emphasized on the basis of religious unity, and it was stated that national organizations were working for the liberation of Turks and Kurds. The activities of the national organizations were effective, and instead of working on the basis of ethnicity, the liberation of the Muslim community was targeted, and as a result, the support of the people was ensured. During the congress period, representatives were elected from Diyarbakır and efforts were made to participate in the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses. A representative from Diyarbakır could not be sent to the Erzurum Congress. Therefore, İhsan Hamit Bey voluntarily mobilized to participate in the Sivas Congress as the Diyarbakır Representative. İhsan Hamit Bey's request was approved by the relevant people and organizations and he moved to Sivas. Although İhsan Hamit Bey arrived in Sivas after the end of the Sivas Congress, he was welcomed with great joy by Mustafa Kemal Pasha and other delegates in Sivas and was welcomed quite well. İhsan Hamit Bey was elected as the Diyarbakır representative to the Congress Representative Committee and participated in the activities of the committee. Upon his return from the congress, he informed the people and organizations in Diyarbakır about the congress activities and pioneered the establishment of a branch of the Anatolian and Rumelia Association for Defence of National Rights in Diyarbakır. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the activities of İhsan Hamit Bey during the National Struggle period by making use of archival documents and Hamit Bey's speeches.

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