Bahaeddin Şakir

1909 10 01 ServetiFunun Bahaeddin Sakir

Bahaeddin Şakir telegram 4 July 1915

Bahattin-Sakir

Berlin - Şehitlik Moschee - 6

[[File: Bahaeddin Şakir (1874 – 17 April 1922) was a prominent Ottoman physician and politician, best known for his leading role in the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) and his involvement in the planning and execution of the Armenian Genocide. His actions and ideologies have made him a controversial figure in the history of the late Ottoman period.

Early Life and Education

Bahaeddin Şakir was born in 1874 in Istanbul, then the capital of the Ottoman Empire. He pursued medical studies and graduated as a physician, a profession that would later serve as a cover for his political and clandestine activities.

Political Career

Şakir's political career began with his involvement in the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, which aimed to restore the constitutional monarchy in the Ottoman Empire and reduce the absolute power of the Sultan. He became a member of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), a political organization that played a significant role in the revolution and governed the empire until its dissolution.

Within the CUP, Şakir was part of the radical faction that advocated for Turkification policies and was deeply involved in the planning of the Armenian Genocide. He was one of the architects behind the systematic extermination of 1.5 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. His role included the organization of the Special Organization (Teşkilat-ı Mahsusa), which carried out massacres and deportations of Armenians.

Role in the Armenian Genocide

As a leading figure in the CUP, Bahaeddin Şakir played a crucial role in the Armenian Genocide. He was directly responsible for issuing orders for the arrest, deportation, and killing of Armenians. His involvement was not only ideological but also operational, as he coordinated with other CUP members and military officials to execute the genocide.

Death

Bahaeddin Şakir's life came to an abrupt end when he was assassinated on 17 April 1922 in Berlin, Germany, by Armenian avengers as part of Operation Nemesis, a mission to target and kill the masterminds behind the Armenian Genocide.

Legacy

The legacy of Bahaeddin Şakir is marked by his role in one of the darkest chapters of Ottoman and world history. His actions during the Armenian Genocide have been the subject of extensive historical research and debate. While he is viewed as a perpetrator of genocide, his contributions to the Ottoman political scene and his role in the Young Turk Revolution are also noted by historians.