Iğdır's Martyrs of Democracy: Hacı Vahap Akar and Faruk Toka

Iğdır's Martyrs of Democracy: Hacı Vahap Akar and Faruk Toka Author: Mücahit Özden HUN   

1. The Late Hacı Vahap Akar

One of the personalities who left their mark on Iğdır's social identity and politics from the 1950s onwards was Hacı Vahap Akar. He was a middle school graduate. In the conditions of that day, being a middle school graduate was almost equivalent to being a university graduate today. He was a constant reader and writer. He was also the natural leader of the Motan tribe, to which he belonged. Since his house was in the city center, it was always full of relatives from mountain villages. He was generous. In those years, the number of literate Kurds in Iğdır city center was small. Kurdish villagers from the mountain villages sought help from Hacı Vahap Akar with their problems with the state. Shortly after, he rented an office. He served his people by writing petitions. He never took money. Before long, he gained the authority to follow cases as a legal representative. He was also involved in politics. He was a member of the Democrat Party. In later years, he became one of the key figures in Iğdır politics as a Municipal Council Member. For many years, he served as the president of the Red Crescent Association. In the 70s, he took on the role of MSP (National Salvation Party) District Chairman. He was in favor of social peace, unity, and solidarity. He never had animosity with anyone and never harmed anyone.

In the 90s, Hacı Vahap Akar became the Provincial Chairman of the Welfare Party. He announced his candidacy for the upcoming Municipal Elections. The organization threatened him not to run. Hacı Vahap Akar, a man of politics and society for years, ignored the threat. Acquaintances from a village, whose name I will not mention, came to Hacı Vahap Akar and asked for his help in a "peace" or similar meeting in another village, whose name I will also not mention. Hacı Vahap Akar, having provided such services and contributed to social peace for years, went to the village without suspicion. Upon entering the room, he was detained and interrogated by the armed militants of the organization. He was executed on April 11, 1994. We embrace Hacı Vahap Akar as a martyr of democracy. May God have mercy on him.

His son, Fuat Akar, recounts:

“Our family belongs to the Motan tribe. The Motan tribe is essentially a branch of the Mutki tribe, settled in Bitlis. The tribal leader Hacı Musa Bey, when he fell into conflict with Mustafa Kemal during the years of the Erzurum Congress, went to Horasan fearing for his life; a branch of his tribe moved from there and settled in the village of Bendemurat. (My grandfather Derviş Bey (Dervişe Çexal) served as a Captain in the Russian army.)

The Motan tribe is scattered in Iğdır and its surrounding villages. To give an idea, if we consider a note I found among my late father's documents, there is a tribal presence of 3500 people.

My late father Hacı Vahap Akar was born in 1925 in Bendemurat village, Iğdır. After completing primary and middle school in Iğdır, he briefly attended Kars High School but left before finishing. My father, who was married twice, had 12 children and 77 grandchildren.

My father served in Iğdır as a legal representative; he settled in Tuzluca for a short period in the early 50s. My father, who served as the Tuzluca District Chairman of the DP, was elected as the President of the Red Crescent Association upon his return to Iğdır; he continued this duty for 35 years. For this reason, he was awarded a gold service medal.

My father's political trajectory continued along the right-wing line, taking on various roles within the DP in the 50s, the AP in the 60s, and the MSP in the 70s. My father, who also served as the MSP district chairman, continued to be involved in politics in the DYP (True Path Party) established after the 1980 coup. In addition, I must add that my father served as a member of the Iğdır municipal council for many years, providing important services in the administration and management of local government.

My father, who was a candidate for the Iğdır Mayoral position from the Welfare Party in the 1994 local elections, was martyred on April 11, 1994, under the threat of not participating in the election.”

DİL GAZETESİ Year: 2 Issue: 130 April 17, 1953

OWNER MECİT HUN

NEW PRISON AND DETENTION CENTER IS BEING BUILT

VAHAP AKAR’S REQUEST FOR RECUSAL OF JUDGE WAS NOT ACCEPTED

Vahap Akar's request for the recusal of the judge, based on the fact that Judge Turgut Çeliker was a colleague of Münir Ekşi in the criminal court case filed against Judge Münir Ekşi for defamation, was rejected by the Kars High Criminal Court.

PAMUKOVA GAZETESİ February 18, 1955

OWNER MECİT HUN

A MURDER WAS COMMITTED IN AKTİŞ VILLAGE OF TUZLUCA

Our special correspondent from Tuzluca, VAHAP AKAR, reports:

A few days ago, in the village of Aktiş, a bloody fight erupted due to discord, resulting in the death of a person named Kelbay İlyas and the injury of 5 villagers. The murderer, Kelbay Oruç, was apprehended and handed over to justice.

Yeşil Iğdır Newspaper Year: 23 Issue: 6354 January 3, 1978

Owner Fazıl Şıktaş

Our district's Municipal Council held its post-election meeting and assigned new individuals to their duties. The meeting was held on December 30, 1977, at 2 PM in the Municipal Palace. Mayor Hüseyin Akbulut, who opened the meeting, welcomed the old and new members gathered in the municipal council elected by the citizens and wished for the meeting to be beneficial and auspicious for our district.

The council, attending with one absence, conducted a roll call. 25 participating members were identified by name. At the start of the election, Vahap Akar and Aydın Ural received 26-26 votes and were elected as Council Secretaries.

Ekinci newspaper May 8, 1978

Owner Cengiz Ekinci

Peace Meeting in Iğdır

Kars Governor Orhan Pirler held a meeting with Party Chairmen in Iğdır. We, the political party chairmen and members active in Iğdır, whose names are listed below, gathered on Wednesday, May 3, 1978, under the chairmanship of our esteemed Governor Orhan Pirler, and decided on the following matters, giving our word of honor to take all necessary measures to ensure their implementation.

Republican People's Party District Chairman Aziz Güney

Justice Party District Chairman Atalay Sever

National Movement Party District Chairman Hidayet Kılıçlar

National Salvation Party District Chairman Vahap Akar

2. THE LATE FARUK TOKA

Born in 1958, Faruk Toka was a brave, honorable, generous, respectful, and friendly person. He never unjustly attacked anyone or used violence. Within his political views, he was someone whose opinions and thoughts were valued. He possessed strong common sense. He was far from feelings like hatred, revenge, and enmity.

He was a graduate of the Education Institute. He worked as a teacher. The organization's urban militia, who disliked Faruk Toka, prepared a report against him and presented it to the organization's mountain cadres. The organization summoned Faruk Toka to Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı) to hold him accountable. Faruk Toka was fearless. He confronted the organization alone. He denied the accusations and defended himself as a Kurdish patriot. He was insulted, he retaliated, and was executed by the organization's militant leader. There is no burial place for him. He lives in our hearts as a martyr of democracy. May God have mercy on him.