Halis Öztürk

Halis Öztürk (Kurdish: Xalis Begê Sîpkî, Turkish: Sipkanlı Halis Bey, 1889 - September 24, 1977) was a Kurdish chieftain and Turkish politician.

Halis born in the Tutak Kazası of Bayazıt Sancağı, Erzurum Vilayeti (present day; Tutak District of Ağrı Province), as the son of Abdulmejid Bey, who was the chieftain of Sipkan tribe and one of the commanders of the Hamidiye Cavalry Regiments. He engaged in agriculture.

In 1927, when the Ararat rebellion broke out, he joined in it and played an active role to the end of rebellion. According to Mehmet Ali Kışlalı, some sources mentioned that he was one of the prominent members who stated Ararat rebellion and he was arrested and escaped when he was transferred from Erzurum to Trabzon. He participated in the peace negotiation with the representative of the Republic of Turkey, as the member of delegation of the Republic of Ararat. After the Ararat rebellion was suppressed, he defected to Iran.

After he returned to Turkey with taking advantage of amnesty, he was elected 9th (1950–1954), 10th (1954–1957) and 11th (1957–1960) period deputy for Ağrı Province, Turkish Grand National Assembly from the Democrat Party.

After the coup d'état on May 27, 1960, he was arrested and was tried at the special court of Yassıada. Because he knew very little Turkish language, he gave his plea in "mix language" of Kurdish and Turkish. The accusation of the public prosecutor was violation and disregarding the constitution. He replied Mr. judge, I swear to God, if I've known that there was the constitution under our feet, I wouldn't have trampled on it .

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