Turkestan Provisional Government
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Turkestan Provisional Government | |
|---|---|
| Capital | Samarkand |
| Largest city | Bukhara |
| Common languages | Uzbek · Tajik · Russian |
| Religion | Sunni Islam Orthodox Christianity |
| Demonym | Turkestani |
| Government | Provisional Islamic republic under military rule |
| Shir Muhammad-bek | |
• President of Bukhara | Osman Hoca |
• War Minister | Abdul Hamid |
• Deputy War Minister | Ali Rıza |
| Historical era | Interwar period |
• Kafirun Congress | 15 April 1922 |
| July 1922 | |
| Area | |
• Total | 200,000–250,000 km2 (77,000–97,000 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 2,500,000[1] |
| Today part of | Uzbekistan Tajikistan |
The Turkestan Provisional Government (In Turkish: Türkistan Türk Müstakil İslam Cumhuriyeti)[2] was established during the Kafirun Congress held on 15 April 1922 as part of the broader Basmachi movement. The short-lived government controlled parts of present-day Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Samarkand serving as its capital and Bukhara as its largest city.
Kafirun Congress
On 28 March 1922, Enver Pasha was declared commander of all forces in Eastern Bukhara by a decree from Alim Khan.[3][4] On April 9; Enver Pasha issued a nine-point circular to all the Basmachi, explaining the situation and giving advice on conduct:[5]
'It is essential that all mujahideen trust each other, obey, and respect each other’s opinions. . . . Since you are all children of the same homeland, I request that you eliminate individual or divisive disputes, unite under a single flag, and serve a single ideal.' He advised them to cut off the enemy’s supply lines, saying: 'It is essential that you be very meticulous in this matter.' Carry out raids on the enemy’s supply detachments and establish a good intelligence network. 'I request that you send your delegations to attend the congress to be held after April 10, 1922.' "Commander of the Bukhara Mujahideen of Islam, Damad-ı Halife-i Müslimin, Enver."
While touring the southern front of Boysun, Enver pasha and his men passed through the village of Kafirun, located about 2 km away.[6] On 15 April 1922, at Kafirun, an enormous crowd gathered under the command of their headquarters. For a council scheduled that day, nearly one hundred Basmachis from all corners of Turkestan had assembled, leading approximately 3,000 armed fighters united under the banner of Enver Pasha for a common ideal.[7] That day, precisely at eight o’clock,[8] Enver Pasha, accompanied by Chief of Staff Hasan Bey, Afghan Captain Afzaleddin, and Afghan volunteers under the command of Ahmet Khan, had gathered under his flag. Before nearly one hundred Basmachis assembled for the congress, Enver Pasha addressed them in Ottoman Turkish:[9]
"ای ترکستانِ مُجاهدلَرِنین قهرمانلاری! سیزلَر بو گؤزل و مُثِلْسِز وطنِیْنینیزی، یِت(?) ییل دیر آنونُ مُردَر چِیزمَهلَری ایله قَدیْمَلییان روسلاردان آزاد ائتمک اُچون بورادا توپلانمیش سیز. قدَرین چِلْوَسی ایله بیز، باشقا بیر مملکتده دوغولوب بِیوُمُوش افغان گؤنُلُلوَر ایله تقدیرینیزده شریک اولوروز.
بِن و ضابطانیم حُضورونوزدا واعده ائدیریم کی، بو مقدّراتا شریک اولماغدان پِشیمانلیق حسِی اِتمِیرم. سون نفَسیمَغَه قَدَر بو دَوا اوچون چالیشاجام. اینجا وردیغیم یَمینی شَرَفْینِیز ایله تَصْدِیق ائدِمَنِیزی طلب ائدیرم."
English Translation:
"O heroes of Turkestan’s mujahideen, you have gathered here to liberate your beautiful and unparalleled homeland from the Russians, who for seventy years have trampled it under their filthy boots. By the twists of fate, we, born in another land, and the Afghan volunteers share in your destiny. On behalf of myself and my fellow officers, I promise before you that I do not regret sharing in your fate. I will work for this cause until my last breath. I ask that you, in turn, endorse the pledge I make here with your honor."
In response, all the basmachis affirmed the Kafirun decisions, declaring: "We pledge on our honor!"[8]
Creation of The Turkestan Provisional Government
Decisions of the Kafirun congress
- In areas of Eastern Bukhara cleared of the enemy, regular and organized military forces will be established and combat procedures will be implemented.
- Mobile forces will be sent to regions where uprisings have not yet occurred to encourage the local population to mobilize.
- In each province, a commander (leshkerbashi) will be appointed to manage revolutionary movements.
- If zakat and tribute are insufficient for the supply of military forces, a tax will be levied on the population according to their wealth.
- A collector will be appointed to manage these financial matters.
- In each province, in areas cleared of the enemy, a local government will be established and its administration organized.
- In places where commanders and local leaders have not yet been appointed, we will assign commanders, governors, and zakat collectors. In areas capable of self-administration, the sergerdars will inform us in due time about these appointments.
- Commanders will be responsible for all military affairs. Beys and other military personnel will handle provisioning and logistics and assist commanders in supplying troops and other necessities. Zakat collectors, appointed to protect the population from oppression while administering local affairs, will be responsible for collecting zakat.
- Each provincial commander and Bey will send a daily report to the central command. If security conditions are stable, reports may be sent twice a week.
- Representatives sent from the center to the provinces will sign official documents on behalf of the Commander-in-Chief.
- In the event of an emergency or if one of the nearby commanders is pressed by the enemy, the closest commanders must immediately rush to provide assistance with as many forces as possible.
- In enemy-occupied cities and areas, if enemy forces are strong, they should be contained through siege to weaken them; always keep enemy positions under surveillance; and carry out raids on enemy units passing through.
- Destroy enemy communication tools such as telegraphs, telephones, and wires.
- Act forcefully against enemy spy organizations and punish them severely. However, those who confess their wrongdoings to us and show repentance should be forgiven.
- Treat captured prisoners with kindness.
- The command of all military and political operations will be entrusted to Enver Pasha.
In accordance with the decisions made at the 15 April 1922 congress, Enver Pasha established local and civil administrations in these areas and stationed a portion of his troops in the mentioned locations to maintain control and security.[13][14][15][16] They have also declared the Independent Islamic Republic of Turkestan (also called Turkestan Provisional Government)[17] in Samarkand with Osman hoca as the President of Bukhara, electing Shir Muhammad, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Armies, as its president.[18][19] Abdul hamid as war minister And Ali Riza as Deputy War Minister.[17] The state was based on the principles of private ownership and rule by Shari'a law.[20] The government established by Shir Muhammad Bek relocated its center five times within three months, moving to Samarkand, Namangan, Osh, Margilan, and Naryn.[21][22] The congress, attended by representatives including Cora Hoca from Kabul, decided to organize regular military units in liberated areas of Eastern Bukhara, prepare local populations for combat, assign commanders to lead revolutionary actions in each region, and levy taxes if resources were insufficient. The congress consisted of 16 measures, with the final one granting Enver Pasha unanimous authority over all military and political actions. He was formally given a seal reading: "Damad-ı Halifet’ül Müslimin, Emir-i Leşker-i İslâm Seyyid Enver" (“Son-in-law of the Caliph of the Muslims, Commander of the Islamic Army, Seyyid Enver”), securing the support of the national movement leadership.[23][11]
