Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the martyrdom of Selahaddin Ürük, a prominent figure in Hizbullah Jamaah who played a significant role in shaping the beliefs and activism of youth in southeastern Türkiye.

Salaheddin Ürük joined in the ranks of Hizbullah Jamaah in 1984 and then dedicated his all life to Islamic activities until his martyrdom in 2001.

“He used to say ‘It is haram to sit at home in a time like this’ very often. Sometimes he would come home so tired that he would fall asleep while waiting for food. Sometimes he used to work till midnight. He used to give us Arabic lessons. After Fajr prayer he used to translate Arabic tafsir to Turkish for us. He used to say ‘It is not time to sleep now; tomorrow we might not have this opportunity,” Elif Ürük, the wife of the martyr, told Ilke News Agency.

When Selahaddin got arrested in 1992, he went through heavy tortures in custody. He amazed everyone with his resistance. Finally, he was sent to Diyarbakir E Tipi Prison after being arrested by court.

Selahaddin was released after 10 months of detention. But he did not leave the jamaah, resuming his Islamic activities as before.

Following the Feb 28 post-modern coup, the government escalated its crack down on Islamic societies, especially Hizbullah Jamaah.

On September 5, 2001, Selahaddin was extrajudicially killed by security forces in the Pozantı district of Adana province.

Today, as the 22nd anniversary of his martyrdom is observed, Selahaddin Ürük's impact on the youth and his unwavering commitment to his beliefs continue to be remembered and honored by those who knew him and the community he served. (ILKHA)