The East Independence Tribunal : Sheikh Said Rebellion

The Independence Tribunals, which have a significant place in Turkey's history as extraordinary judicial organs, were established in different cities and dates and in distinct conditions between the years of 1920-1927. In this respect, it is necessary to assess the activities of the Independence Tribunals for these 7 years in the light of the political changes in those times. The Independence Tribunals are generally assessed in two eras: The National Struggle Period and The Republican Period. The tribunals operated during the National Struggle Period, which was a struggle of existence, acted as "resurrection courts" and were effective in the liberation of Anatolia from occupation and provision of state authority. Following this, the tribunals operated after the proclamation of the Republic, at a time when revolutions, political controversies and the Sheikh Said Rebellion took place, acted as "revolution courts" and constituted one of the major factors for both in determination of political power and in establishment of new order and revolutions. In this study, first of all the general structure of the Sheikh Said Rebellion that raised on the 13th of February 1925 and many debate issues about the Rebellion were discussed. Secondly, the judgments of the East Independence Tribunal, one of the two Independence Tribunals established after the mentioned Rebellion, were analysed. Mainly the records of East Independence Tribunal, which are found in the archives of Turkish Grand National Assembly, are examined for the study.