The events of Azadî unfold against a historical backdrop marked by Kurdish grievances and resistance during the early years of the Turkish Republic in the 1920s. Azadî was a Kurdish secret organization founded around 1921 in Erzurum, aiming to secure Kurdish freedom and rights within a rapidly centralizing and nationalist Turkish state
. Key elements of this backdrop include:
- The imposition of Turkish as the sole language in courts and schools, with religious schools closed, limiting Kurdish education and cultural expression.
- Heavy taxation on Kurdish populations without perceived benefits.
- State-sponsored settlement of Turkish refugees in Kurdish-majority areas to alter demographic balances.
- The erasure of Kurdish identity through the removal of Kurdistan from maps and the renaming of Kurdish geographical places with Turkish names.
- Political disenfranchisement, as Kurdish representatives were appointed by the central government rather than elected locally.
- Exploitation of natural resources in Kurdish provinces without local benefit.
- Lack of Kurdish representation in governance and disrespect toward Kurdish military officers.
- Military raids on Kurdish villages, contributing to widespread unrest.
Azadî organized and led uprisings such as the Beytüşşebab mutiny in 1924 and the Sheikh Said rebellion in 1925, both responses to these oppressive policies and aimed at Kurdish autonomy or independence. After the failure of these revolts and the arrest of many members, the movement chose Sheikh Said as its leader to continue the resistance. The failure of these rebellions led Kurdish resistance to regroup under other organizations, such as Xoybûn, which later led the Ararat rebellion (1927–1930)
. Thus, the historical backdrop is one of Kurdish opposition to the Turkish Republic's nationalist policies that suppressed Kurdish language, culture, political representation, and economic rights, fueling armed resistance movements under the banner of Azadî.
