Mehmet Yakub Septar
Romanian Crimean Tatar lawyer and mufti (1904–1991)
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Mehmet Yakub Septar (known in Romanian as Mehmet Iacub Septar) (1904–1991) was a Crimean Tatar lawyer, thinker, spiritual leader of Tatars and Turks in Dobruja, Mufti of the Muslim community in Romania. He was a promoter of harmony and peace.[1]
Mehmet Yakub Septar Mehmet Iacub Septar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1904 |
| Died | 1991 (aged 86–87) |
Resting place | Constanța Muslim Central Cemetery 44.173046°N 28.622309°E |
| Occupations | lawyer, Mufti of Romania |
| Years active | 1947–1990 (Mufti) |
| Known for | He was a promoter of harmony and peace |
| Predecessor | Mitat Rifat |
| Successor | Ablakim Ibrahim |
| Spouse | Zeyneb (1902–1975) |
| Children | Saadet (daughter) |
Biography
Septar was born in 1904 in Azaplar, situated in the Tatar countryside west of Mangalia, a village known today by its official name Tătaru. He studied law at the University of Bucharest and he served in Constanța Bar Association. He backed the emigration to Turkey.[2]
He served as Mufti through the entire Communist era in his country, between 31 December 1947[3] and 1990, being preceded by Mitat Rifat and succeeded by Ablakim Ibrahim.[4] As head of the Muslim Cult, he was placed by Securitate under secret surveillance in operation "The Sultan" under allegations of insulting USSR and attempting to establish in 1950 a Muslim World Peace Organization.[2]
During Nicolae Ceaușescu's years in office he represented the community in the Great National Assembly, now Parliament of Romania. He was friends with fellow religious leaders such as Justinian[3] and Teoctist,[5] Patriarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church and also Dr. Moses Rosen, the longtime Chief Rabbi of Romanian Jewry.
He had a good acquaintance with the Romanian culture and became one of Romania's important speakers on the international scene,[6] a non official "ambassador" during his visits in Arab and Muslim countries. [7] He thought that "Israel and the Arabs must come together and talk peace directly."[1]
In 1990, when the editors of Renkler Journal in Bucharest led by historian Tahsin Gemil created the Tatar movement based on ideas of cultural and linguistic uniformity, Septar opposed this project creating a movement with cultural diversity conservation views activating under the motto Tek niyet, mútenevviyet ("Unity in diversity").[8]
Septar died in 1991, in Constanța. His body was laid to rest next to his wife, Zeyneb (1902–1975), in Constanța Muslim Central Cemetery at: 44.173046, 28.622309.