Muhammad Ali Madali

Muhammad Ali Madali (also known as Duchki Ishan) was an ishan of the Naqshbandi Sufi order, who lead an 1898 revolt against Russian domination, centred in the town of Andijan (in modern Uzbekistan). Madali, seeking to rid the area of the Russians and restore the khanate of Khokand, called for "holy war", and led 2,000 men against the Russians. However, his force was blocked outside the city on Andijan by the Russian 20th Line Battalion and defeated. Of those 2,000, 546 were put on trial, and Madali and five of his lieutenants hanged.^[1]

Outcome and interpretations

• The Czar recalled the regional governor, General Vrevskii and replaced him with General S. M. Dukhovskii. The rebellion was attributed to two major factors: stirring of Islamic feeling (allegedly encouraged by the Ottoman sultan), and a failure of the Russian government to take note of the situation.^[2]

• Later Soviet commentators declined to recognise the event as a popular movement, noting however that not only the disenfranchised elite, but also the working classes had been drawn to Madali's cause.^[3]

References