Shyma Saed; Hersh Hamakarim
Abstract
The Sufi's tariqa (way, brotherhood) in Kurdistan played an important and effective political role throughout the history of the Ottoman Empire. In the nineteenth century, especially ...
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The Sufi's tariqa (way, brotherhood) in Kurdistan played an important and effective political role throughout the history of the Ottoman Empire. In the nineteenth century, especially after the fall of the Emirates, Sufi sheikhs in addition to their religious guidance and teaching the mystical and spiritual practices, they undertake the responsibility to lead the Kurdish liberation movement. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the closure of most of the Sofi’s meeting places known as zawiyas, khanqahs or tekke where were the places of spiritual sessions meetings(majalis). The practice of violence by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk towards Sofi's sheikhs did not stop them idly but continued to practice their secret activities. With the emergence of multi-party life in Turkey, the Sufi tariqa began again in their religious activities, especially in Northern Kurdistan. In the last quarter of the twentieth century, and after the remarkable development witnessed by the Islamic political movement, as well as the emergence of the Welfare Party in 1983, suitable circumstances arose for the Sufi Way in southern Turkish Kurdistan, so that they, while performing their religious rituals, exercise their political and social roles as well. this study aims to focus on the history of Sufi tariqa which is full of conflicts and quarrels with the government and among themselves in Northern Kurdistan. From this point of view, the percentage of Sofi Orders' participation in the practice of politics was not parallel, but rather varied and each of them played an effective role and left its striking imprint on Kurdistan
