ATATÜRK YOLU DERGİSİ, sa.74, ss.215-225, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)
The Independence Courts,
which carried out trials within the framework of ensuring the authority of the
Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT) during the years of the War of
Independence, continued their activities to ensure the establishment of the
Turkish Revolution after the adoption of the Republican regime. As a matter of
fact, in an environment where conflicts about developments such as the
abolition of the Sultanate, the proclamation of the Republic and the abolition
of the Caliphate deepened, the Sheikh Said Rebellion, which led to the
establishment of the Eastern Independence Court, broke out. Fethi (Okyar), who
was criticized for being passive in taking measures against the rebellion,
resigned and İsmet (İnönü) Pasha was appointed to form the new government. On
March 4, 1925, when the new government was formed, the Takrir-i Sükûn Law which
gave extraordinary powers to the government, was passed by the Parliament.
After the approval of the Takrir-i Sükûn Law, the government's proposal to
establish two separate Independence Courts, one in Ankara and the other in the
rebellion zone, was also accepted. On March 7, 1925, the election of the
president, prosecutor and member was held for both Independence Courts by the
Turkish Grand National Assembly. As a result of the election, Hacim Muhiddin
(Çarıklı) became the President of the Eastern Independence Court, Ahmed Süreyya
Örgeevren became the Prosecutor, Ali Saib (Ursavaş) , Avni (Doğan) and Lütfi
Müfid (Özdeş) set off to Diyarbakır on 12 April 1925 and started their work.
The court, according to the Law of Takrir-i Sükûn, was going to make judgements
about reaction, rebellion, movements and publications that wanted to disrupt
the peace and security of the country. The Eastern Independence Court, which
continued its duty by travelling around the region, especially in Diyarbakır,
Elazığ, Malatya and Urfa, had the authority to implement its decisions. The
task of the Eastern Independence Court, which continued its activities for
around two years with six-month extensions, was terminated with the Assembly
Decision dated March 7, 1927.