Who is Sütçü İmam?
🧍 Who Is He? – The Heroic Story of Sütçü İmam
Sütçü İmam is the courageous folk hero who ignited the first spark of our National Struggle. He was born in 1872 in the Fevzipaşa (Bektutiye) Neighborhood of Kahramanmaraş. His father was Ömer Efendi of the Kireçcioğulları family, and his mother was Emine Hanım of the Tiyeklioğulları family.
His real name is simply "İmam." However, he became known among the people as "Sütçü İmam" because he earned his living by selling milk in a small shop beneath the Uzunoluk Camii. He also served as the mosque’s imam voluntarily, "for the pleasure of Allah."
Portrait of Sütçü İmam (generated by artificial intelligence).
⚔️ The Day That Changed History – 31 October 1919
In 1919, Maraş was under French occupation, and Armenian gangs began roaming the streets and insulting the Turkish people. On one such day, an Armenian soldier attacked a woman wearing a veil as she emerged from the Uzunoluk Hamamı and tore off her veil. He then uttered these words:
"This is no longer Turkish land! Veils are not worn in French territory!"
The people, witnessing this injustice, became enraged. Çakmakçı Sait, who tried to intervene, was killed by gunfire from the Armenian soldiers.
Upon hearing of this injustice, Sütçü İmam picked up his rifle and rushed to the scene. Without hesitation, he fired the first shot against the occupiers, disabling one of them. This bullet did not merely wound a soldier—it ignited the flame of patriotism burning in the hearts of the people of Maraş.
Thus began the uprising of the Maraş people during the War of Independence.
Portrait of Sütçü İmam (generated by artificial intelligence).
🛡️ Heroism and Its Aftermath
Sütçü İmam did not limit himself to firing the first shot; he also displayed great bravery during the 22-day battle for Maraş. After the struggle, the city was cleansed of the occupiers.
Following the liberation of the city, he was appointed to a position in the municipality and served as chief artillery officer in the fortress. Unfortunately, on 25 November 1922, while on duty during a cannon firing exercise, he suffered fatal injuries from a gunpowder explosion.
🏛️ Honor for Sütçü İmam
The memory of Sütçü İmam is preserved in Maraş with great reverence:
- In 1936, a monumental fountain was erected in Uzunoluk Meydanı.
- In 1977, the Liberty Monument was erected.
- In 1980, his grave was turned into an honorary tomb.
- In 1992, a newly established university was named after him:
👉 Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University
🧒 His Legacy to the Youth
The life of Sütçü İmam teaches us that:
- Courage comes not from a uniform but from faith.
- Patriotism can arise from a mosque imam or a milk seller.
- One person can ignite an entire people.
🗣️ Inspiring Words
"Maraş will not be our grave; it will not become a garden for the enemy!"
Portrait of Sütçü İmam (generated by artificial intelligence).
📚 References
Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University. "Who Is Sütçü İmam?" Accessed 30 May 2025. https://www.ksu.edu.tr/Default.aspx?SId=21362
Anadolu Agency. "The Unforgettable Hero of the National Struggle: Sütçü İmam." Accessed 30 May 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/unsung-hero-of-the-national-struggle-sutcu-imam/3403394
Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality. "The Sütçü İmam Incident." Accessed 30 May 2025. https://kahramanmaras.bel.tr/sutcu-imam-olayiKahramanmaraş Municipality
