Deli Sefer's Defense

DELİ SEFER’S DEFENSE

Dear readers!

Iğdır's first novel was written by Faik Kubilay. The book was titled "Küçük Köylüler" (Small Villagers). It was published in 1976 by Günce Yayınları. Faik Kubilay was an educator. The son of Cabbar Bey, a farmer from Tecirli, Faik Kubilay retired after 41 years of service. I remember his name with respect, and wish him health and happiness if he is still alive.

The book "Küçük Köylüler" offers a glimpse into Iğdır in the 1970s. The most important character in the book is Sefer Şimşey, also known as Deli Sefer, or Nino Sefer. This name is not unfamiliar to the people of Iğdır. Although he passed away years ago, his name is still on the lips of Iğdır residents. Everyone assumed he was mad, and treated him as such. In fact, in Deli Sefer's heart was the rebellion of Nietzsche, who cried out, "God is dead! We have killed him!" Nietzsche, considered one of the greatest philosophers in human history, also died insane.

In the novel "Küçük Köylüler," Deli Sefer gains the interest and affection of young left-wing activists. The youths, thinking he would not arouse suspicion, use Deli Sefer to deliver forbidden pamphlets and newspapers to the villages. One day, the left-wing youths are caught. Deli Sefer is among them. They are brought to court. Faik Kubilay describes the following section thus: (Page 291)

“Finally, Sefer was to be heard. The excitement outside was at its peak. Everyone, including the police, was eager to see or hear what was happening inside. Sefer rose from his seat and, with very heavy steps, swayed from side to side as he approached the stand. He looked at his friends and the judge with vacant eyes, then fixed his gaze on the ceiling and waited for a long time. Even when he was mad, he had never been seen so sullen, so lost in himself! He scratched the back of his neck with all five fingers. The Small Villagers knew the meaning of this well. Sefer always scratched his neck when he made remarks about his friends' mothers or mothers-in-law!

“What is your name and surname?” asked the judge, as usual.

Sefer spread his hands to his sides:

“Deli Sefer!” he said, bowing his head.

***

Dear readers! Faik Kubilay continues the story from this point in his unique style and completes his book. With your permission, I wanted to continue Deli Sefer's defense in my own style:

DELİ SEFER’S DEFENSE BEGINS (Mücahit Özden Hun)

“Your Honor! Here I am before you. You have learned my name, age, and profession. I even declared, without hesitation, that my real name is Deli Sefer. I am an open-hearted person. I have never had a hidden side. (Pointing to the crowd in the courtroom with his hand) I do not harbor feelings of hatred and revenge like these people. I am a free citizen. I am not affiliated with any ethnic group. Kurds and Azerbaijanis live together in Arapkir village, where I was born and raised. I did not take sides among them. I am myself. I belong to no one. I know, Your Honor! A villager named Koço reported me. Allegedly, I was seducing young people and instilling harmful ideas in them. I was distributing socialist magazines and newspapers and engaging in propaganda. I was belittling the state and causing discord in society. I will speak about these matters later.

Your Honor! First, I would like to talk about my childhood. I had a different state of mind. While the neighborhood children were shooting birds with slingshots, I was taking injured birds and treating them. While they were stoning dogs, I was offering them pieces of bread I carried in my pocket. To make a long story short, Your Honor! I was different from the other children.

I remember the first day I went to school in the village. While the teacher was writing letters on the blackboard, I had put a small frog, squeezed into a corner of the classroom, into my pocket and was caressing it. When recess came, I would leave it by the ditch, allowing it to reunite with its family.

All my attention was on the cute little frog. I ran my fingers over its rough skin, trying to overcome its fear. The teacher had finished writing the alphabet on the blackboard and was pronouncing the letters aloud with the class. While my classmates were shouting and repeating what the teacher said, I was spending time with the little frog. Suddenly, a slap landed on my face. The teacher had seen my lack of interest in the lesson and punished me. There was laughter in the classroom.

My honor was broken. I gathered my belongings and left the classroom. I left the little frog by the ditch. I didn't go home. I lay down under a tree far from the fields and cried. I must have fallen asleep. By the time my father found me, it was well past midnight. I had caught a cold. I lay in bed with a fever for days.

When I got back on my feet, everything looked different to me. Sitting at home and talking to people was torture. I wandered the streets and fields, longing to live freely, intertwined with nature. I had a hatred for people and the order they had established. Sometimes I didn't return home, sleeping in a secluded corner or an abandoned house. When I turned 15, I came to Iğdır city center. I fed myself by begging. My speech and appearance must have been strange, because those around me always treated me as if I were mad. Soon enough, they called me Deli Sefer.

Your Honor! I slept in secluded corners at night, often falling asleep on an empty stomach. My days passed like this. One day, as I was approaching a coffeehouse, one of the young men blocked my way. He spoke in a respectful tone:

“Mr. Sefer, come and have a cup of tea with us!”

The young man had addressed me as Mr. Sefer! I was very surprised. I hesitantly sat on the stool. As I drank my tea, I listened to the young men's conversations. It was as if they were speaking a language I didn't know. One of them slipped some money into my hand. I left there with a peaceful heart. A few days later, I met the young men again. I sat at their table. I drank their tea. The bearded one among them put his hand on my shoulder:

“Mr. Sefer, we are socialist youths! We want to change the world, make the poor rich, feed the hungry, end wars, and bring peace. Will you help us?”

I stared at them in astonishment. I nodded my head in affirmation. They handed me a stack of papers:

“You will take these papers to the village and distribute them!”

I was illiterate. I didn't know what was written on the papers. I had grown fond of the young men. I didn't want to disappoint them. Each time, I distributed the papers they gave me in the villages. One day, the police caught me and brought me here. I later learned that someone had reported me. That's all I have to say! Please, Your Honor!

The judge shuffled the papers in front of him.

“Don't you know that socialist propaganda is a crime? I will send you to prison. Do you have anything else to say?”

When Deli Sefer heard the word "prison," his heart ached. He would no longer be able to roam freely in the streets. He would be confined within four walls. This was an injustice! He turned his face to the audience in the courtroom:

“People of Iğdır, Your Honor accuses me of helping young people. I see that you too seem to believe that I have done something harmful. While listening to Your Honor, I questioned who I was. I am no longer the Deli Sefer you know. I am Mr. Sefer, as that socialist youth addressed me.

Your Honor speaks beautifully, but believe me, he has not spoken a single true word. I am drowning in the lies he has fabricated. I have harmed no one. If they believe that every person labeled 'mad' will lie, then I have nothing to say. I am not an orator. I cannot speak beautifully, but today, because of the injustice I have experienced, a light has dawned within me. I am 55 years old. My tongue has been loosened, as if by an unknown secret, to demand an accounting for the pains I have suffered all these years. Look how easily I speak.

People of Iğdır! I will tell you the whole truth and I will confront you. But I am not in a position to deliver a speech adorned with brilliant and showy words like Your Honor. I will speak as best as I can, but believe me, there will be no lies in my words. I don't need to. Those who think they have something to lose tell lies. I have nothing but the clothes you see on me! Therefore, let no one think that I will say anything other than the truth.

Just now, the young men were interrogated one by one. They bravely declared what they thought. You will appreciate that flowery sentences, like those of young people, do not suit a man of my age.

I will ask you this: if, while defending myself, you see that I speak as I have always been accustomed to, as I speak in the streets, do not be surprised, and therefore do not interrupt me. Because, although I am over 55 years old, this is the first time I have appeared before a judge. I am unfamiliar with the court and what is being said. For this reason, please allow me to speak as I have been accustomed to for years. I hope you will not find this request unreasonable. Whether my manner of speaking is good or bad, what does it matter? You should only look at whether I am telling the truth, that is what is important.

People of Iğdır! First, I want to answer the older accusations directed at me and those who have long accused me of various things; after that, I will address newer issues. Because, people of Iğdır, for years there have been many who unjustly accused me to you. A villager named Koço reported me, saying I was seducing young people. But I fear those like Bayram even more.

Yes, people of Iğdır, Bayram and his friends are more dangerous. Because they deceived many of you with lies about me. They introduced me to you as a devil, supposedly meddling in what happens in the heavens, knowing what goes on underground, bringing misfortune to people. That's why you stoned me wherever you saw me, cursed me with your bitter words. You left me in need of a piece of dry bread.

(Deli Sefer turns to the crowd, points to Hacı Ekber with his hand, and continues his speech) Do you remember, Bayram! It was during the Cyprus Peace Operation. People were lining up in droves in front of the Military Recruitment Office to volunteer as soldiers. You were among them. As I shuffled past you in my torn shoes, you called out to me from a distance:

“Deli Sefer! Come and enlist too! We are going to kill the Greeks. We will cut off their heads. We will seize their women. We will find a beautiful woman for you too.”

How did I answer then? Do you remember the answer I gave that day, Bayram:

“Bayram, every war is a massacre. Only fools rejoice in war. What if the Greeks cut off a part of you! Look what happened? You were wounded in the war, your leg was cut off. Your name became Lame Bayram. Now I ask you here, in front of everyone: when war cries are raised again, would you want to line up and enlist?”

I see you shaking your head, meaning “No!” But in those years, you declared me a traitor. Even small children threw stones at me, shouting “Traitor!” I had to hide in every corner. You were heroes, I was a traitor. So many years have passed. Tell me, is there any value now in knowing who was a hero and who was a traitor?

Deli Sefer looked into the crowd. His eyes met Hacı Ekber's. Pointing to Hacı Ekber with his hand, he continued his speech: “Most of all, I fear those like Hacı Ekber. One day, as I was passing by the mosque, he picked up a paving stone from the ground and threw it at me. ‘Ominous madman! You will defile the mosque,’ he shouted. They think that free people like me do not believe in gods. People of Iğdır, I ask you, am I respectful of the blessings of God who created the earth and sky, all living things and plants, or is it Hacı Ekber who thinks of nothing but killing every animal he sees? Religion has entered their brains and hearts like a fairy tale, enveloping their beings as if they are hypnotized. As a free person, I decide my own religion, avoiding wrongs and pursuing what is right.

People of Iğdır, I can now begin my defense. I must try to quickly uproot an accusation that has been deeply ingrained in your minds for years. If it is good for me and for you, I hope to succeed in this and clear my name. But I also know very well that this is not an easy task. Whatever it is, let us leave it to God's command. My duty is to defend myself according to the law.

Let's start by examining what the accusation is that encouraged Koço, who tried to defame me, to bring this case against me. First, let's see what those who slander me say. Assuming they have sued me, I will briefly summarize their accusations as follows:

“Deli Sefer is a bad person: he meddles in what happens underground and in the sky, he presents wrong as right, and he teaches these things to others. He instills poisonous ideas in the minds of young people.”

This is more or less the essence of the accusation. Most of those present here can testify that this is a lie. It is claimed that I distributed organizational magazines and pamphlets for money. These are lies. Those who chased me with stones, calling me 'Deli Sefer,' should not forget that a heart filled with feelings of exclusion and pain is won not by money, but by kind words. These young people honored me by calling me “Mr. Sefer” and offered me tea. They showed no lack of respect with kind words and selfless love. For the sake of all these things, I distributed the newspapers and pamphlets. I am illiterate. I don't know what was written on the papers I distributed. But for the sincerity and friendship of these young people, I would gladly go to prison. It would even be an honor for me to hang on the gallows for them. Now it is time to part, let us go our separate ways: I to die, you to live. Which is better? No one but God knows this.