Nektel Araz

Nektel Araz

Nektel Araz (born January 1, 1949, in Mardin) is a Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish author, leader, and peacemaker.

Biography

His family originates from Mardin and Cizre. His father, Yusuf Mehmet Gesim, was one of the leaders of the Beni Gesim tribe, and his mother, Emine Hatun, was the granddaughter of Hoca Necmettin, who is known for his scholarship in the region.
Nektel Araz completed his primary school with many difficulties due to the situation in Mardin at that time. He couldn’t pursue his studies because of his father’s wish of wanting Araz to stay home. When Araz asked about his school career, a tear appeared in his eyes, and he narrated what his father said: “My son, I am afraid that if you study, you will have to leave me when you grow up, and I don’t think I can leave any moment without seeing you. I see in you a great man. Stay with me and do not leave me.”
Nektel Araz says that the most enjoyable time of his youth was reciting the Yusuf Surah daily to his parents, who used to listen to it with great enjoyment.
Nektel Araz studied history and religion sciences by himself and obtained very good skills in mathematics. One day, there was a disagreement between the merchants who used to go to Van for trade about the sharing. They asked the math teacher for solving the issue. However, the teacher couldn’t succeed in solving the problem. One of them suggested asking Nektel Araz. Araz solved the problem in a very short time by using his advanced knowledge about algebra. In this way, he proved that even though he doesn’t have any education in mathematics, he has very high knowledge in the field of algebra.
Araz gives great importance to history and has read hundreds of history books and articles. His analysis in history is accepted in the region as the only correct source. Araz says that the most influential personality on him is Al-Ghazali. He says that Al-Ghazali is his spiritual father and he almost read all his books again and again. He says that Al-Ghazali is an ocean, and the person who drinks a drop from that ocean is the happiest person on earth.
Araz gives special importance to education and says that the only way to save the community is by educating them. He has taught his brothers and sisters who don’t know how to read and write the Turkish language. His family is accepted as a model for the youth in his region. All his children have higher education, including engineers and professors.
Nektel Araz has been involved in tens of revenge problems between the tribes as a peacemaker. His opinion and approach to solving these issues is accepted without any doubt, and he has been accepted as the most successful peacemaker in Yeşilli. Nektel Araz always refused any offer from the people and said, “I am here for helping everyone, and I will not accept any gift or present for that,” however, recently Nektel Araz entered politics due to the lack of leadership to regulate and govern the district of Yeşilli.
The day he started politics, he said the following poem:

• Ize kenel vedi haliyyen (If the valley is empty)
  
• Yekunu salebu veliyyen (the fox will be a mayor)
  

So we should not let the valley empty.

Harassments

Several times, the government army and police forces raided his residence and arrested him. However, they could not find any ties between him and the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) and set him free. He refused to leave his village in the so-called extraordinary period in the Kurdish region.

Criticism

He refused to join any Sufism group and always supported the belief between the individual and God. Some of the Sufi groups criticized him because he doesn’t have a beard.

Influence

Accepted as one of the most influential people in Mardin. His true personality and influence is unquestionable in Yesilli. He has great respect from the Aramaic population throughout the region.

References

This article "Nektel Araz" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

---