Behaeddin Shakir

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Behaeddin Shakir (d.1922) was a founding member of the Committee of Union and Progress. At the end of World War I, he was detained with other members of the Committee of Union and Progress, first by the local court martial and then by the British government. He was then sent to Malta pending military trials for crimes against humanity, which never materialized, and was subsequently exchanged by the British for hostages held by Kemalist forces in Turkey.

Contents 1 Armenian genocide case 1.1 Armenian genocide 1.2 Armenian-Azerbaijani war 2 See also 3 References

[edit] Armenian genocide case

In the autumn of 1919, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, part of the Armenian national liberation movement, ruled to punish the executors of the Armenian Genocide. Behaeddin Shakir was assassinated by Uhland, Arshavir Shirakian and Aram Yerganian on April 17, 1922. His assassins were never detained. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation claims that Behaeddin Shakir had two main involvement with the Armenians.

[edit] Armenian genocide

As a proof of the state organized genocide using the tehcir (deportations) process of Tehcir law, Behaeddin Shakir was claimed to be the central figure of the special organization. The details of his involvement, or documents regarding his activities of Armenian deportations have never been substantiated.

[edit] Armenian-Azerbaijani war

See also: Democratic Republic of Armenia and Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

Further information: Armenian-Azerbaijani war (1918 - 1920)

[The Armenian Revolutionary Federation blames Behaeddin Shakir for involvement in the Armenian-Azerbaijani war (1918 - 1920), specifically in the communications between Musavat and the Committee of Union and Progress. In the initial stages of this war the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Armenian Militia) was engaged in armed confrontation with the Azerbaijani forces during which many Muslims were expelled from Baku or went underground. The tide turned when Enver Pasha of the Ottoman Empire begin to move forward with the newly established Army of Islam. Dunsterville ordered the evacuation of the city on September 14, after six weeks of occupation, and withdrew to Iran; most of the Armenian population escaped with the British forces. The Army of Islam and their Azeri allies, led by Nuri Pasha, entered Baku on September 15. However, after the armistice of Mudros between Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire on October 30, Turkish troops were substituted for those of the Triple Entente. Headed by British general W. Thomson, who had declared himself the military governor of Baku, 5,000 Commonwealth soldiers arrived in Baku on November 17, 1918. By General Thomson's order, martial law was implemented in Baku. The Armenian Revolutionary Federation blames Behaeddin Shakir for the deaths of 20,000 Armenians during wartime. The truth of this statement has not been substantiated.

[edit] See also

• Committee of Union and Progress.

[edit] References