The Azadî, officially Civata Azadiya Kurd, later Civata Xweseriya Kurd was a Kurdish secret organization. According to Kurds who reported to British intelligence officers, Azadî was established in Erzurum in 1921 by Halid Beg Cibran. The aim of Azadî was to deliver the Kurds a life in freedom in a developed environment.
History
Several reasons were put forward for its establishment, such as:
That only the Turkish language was allowed in the courts, which could lead to misunderstandings
That only Turkish was taught at the schools, and the religious schools were closed, therefore no education was available for the Kurds
Taxes had to be paid several times a year, and no benefit was perceived from the taxes
The Turks also settled Turkish refugees in the areas of Kurdish majority, attempting to achieve a Turkish majority.
According to Robert Olson, Azadî has established sections in the cities of Erzurum, Dersim, Diyarbakir, Siirt, Istanbul, Bitlis, Kars, Hınıs, Erzincan, Muş, Van, Malazgirt, and Harput and several Kurdish notables and tribe leaders were the heads of the sections. It appointed several of its members to establish ties with diplomats from the British Empire, attempting to secure their support. They also attempted to gain the support of the former Sultan Mehmed VI. During its first General Congress in 1924, in which several commanders from the Hamidye cavalry and also Sheikh Said took part, it was decided that the Kurds should revolt against the Turks. The Azadî was a leading force involved the Beytüssebab mutiny in September 1924 and also in the organization of the Sheik Said Rebellion in 1925. After many members from the Azadi were arrested after the revolt in Beytüssebab, the movement has chosen the Sheikhs to be the leaders of the Sheik Said revolt. The rebellion failed, following which the Kurds assembled around the Xoybun, who was involved in the Ararat rebellion from1927–1930.
