Akhadic Society

The Akhadic Society for Religious and Political Reform, shortened to the Akhadic Society, is a transnational Akhadist organization founded in Khanid by Kyrzbek Akhadic scholar and politician Ishaq Tynay in 1529. The organization has gained supporters throughout Akhadic countries and influenced other Akhadic groups with its “model of political activism combined with charity work”. Between 1563 and 1568 the group supported the Tradition and Justice political party which was a minor political party inside the Kyrzbek Front, the ruling coalition of the Akhadic Republic of Kyrzbekistan. The organization has suffered from periodic government crackdowns for alleged terrorist activities in several nearby countries in recent years, although the organization has still a legal status in the Democratic Republic of Kyrzbekistan. In that country, the Akhadic Society openly supports the conservative Kyrzbek National Party, founded in 1570, and which many considered controlled and funded by the Akhadic Society, although they have denied such claim.

The Akhadic Society's stated goal is to instill the Setgvek and Zokuk as the “sole reference point for ordering the life of the Akhadic individual, family, community...and state”. Its mottos include “Equals through the Zokuk”, “Akhad is our only path”, “a Holy State for a religious society”. It is financed by members, who are required to allocate a portion of their income to the movement. It is said to be financed by the Akhadic Republic of A'sir as well, although this claim is disputed.

As a Pan-Akhadic, religious, and social movement, it preaches Akhadism, teaches the illiterate in its funded religious schools, and sets up hospitals and business companies. Recently, the Akhadic Society has also developed branches in non-Akhadic countries, with the aim to attend and help Akhadic minorities there. The group claims to be a “peaceful, democratic, and non-profit organization”, which “condemns violence and terror activity”.

Beliefs

The Akhadic Society's “Fourth Manifesto” (1569) describes its principles as the establishment of Zokuk or Akhadic law as “the basis for controlling the affairs of state and society”, and secondly, work to unify “Akhadic countries and states, and liberating them from non-Akhadic influence”.

According the Kyrzbekistan's spokesman of the organization, the Akhadic Society believes in reform, democracy, freedom of assembly and press, political pluralism, etc.

Its founder, Ishaq Tynay, was heavily influenced by Akhadic reformers such as Bal-Jawadi and Sadik Namir, with the group structure and approach being influenced by the Religious League for the Study of Zokuk, based in Ga'bath. The Akhadic Society is a highly conservative and traditionalist organization, "being the only available outlet for those whose religious and cultural sensibilities had been outraged by the impact of secularism and foreign influence...but who reject openly armed struggle and terrorism".

It proclaims that Setgvek and Zokuk constitute a perfect way of life and social and political organization that Akhad has set out for man. Akhadic governments must be based on this system and eventually unified in a Pan-Akhadic State. The Akhadic Society preaches that Akhadism will bring social justice, the eradication of poverty, corruption and sinful behavior, and political freedom (to the extent allowed by the religious law and the principles of Akhadism).

On the issue of women and gender the Akhadic Society interprets Akhadism conservatively. It calls for a “campaign against ostentation in dress and loose behavior”, “the prohibition of dancing and other decadent pastimes”, “prohibition for women to be hired in 'non-female' occupations”, “segregation of male and female students”, and “a separate curriculum for girls”.

The Akhadic Society declares to be a movement, not a political party, but members have created political parties in several countries. These parties are staffed by the Society's members but are kept independent to some degree.

Organization

The Akhadic Society has been described as a combination of “neo-spiritual movement...and a political party”. The Akhadic Society has a pyramidal structure with “brotherhoods” (or “külale”, which consists of five to nine people and is headed by a “baçe”, or “driver”) at the bottom, “clan” above them, “committees” above clans, and “councils” above committees. Potential members start out as "semrafhtar" or “supporter”, then to "ishtare" or “affiliated” (who are nonvoting members). If a "ishtare" satisfied his monitors, he is promoted to "kumara" or “activist”, before advancing to the final level – "savunmak" or “soldier of faith”. With this slow careful advancement, the loyalty of potential members can be “closely probed” and obedience to orders assured.

At the top of the hierarchy is the Supreme Council, and immediately below the Akhadic Council. Orders are passed through a chain of command, in a typically centralized and hierarchical structure.

• The Akhadic Council has the duties of planning, charting general policies and programs that achieve the goal of the Akhadic Society. It is composed of roughtly 100 members. Important decisions, such as whether to participate in elections, are debated and voted on within the Akhadic Council and the executed by the Supreme Council. Its resolutions are binding to the Society and only the General Faith Conference can modify or annul them and the Council has also the right to modify the resolutions of the Supreme Council. It follows the implementation of the Society policies and programs. It directs the Supreme Council and it forms dedicated committees to assist in that.

• The Supreme Council is composed of approximately 21 longtime members of the Society and headed by the Chairman of the Society. Each member of the Supreme Council oversees a different porfolio, such as university recruitment, education, security, intelligence, or politics. Supreme Council members are elected by the Akhadic Council.

In each country where the Akhadic Society is based there is a National Council with a Ilkbir ("leader") appointed by the Supreme Council leadership with essentially the same divisions as the worldwide Supreme Council itself. The Akhadic Society mostly exists in Akhadic countries in the Near East, although outside the region it also has influence, with branches in Eskkya, North Strathae, Carpathia, Lanlania, Florinthus, Nentsia, Mordvania, Valland, Mestra, Angiris, Goldecia, and Nyland. The Akhadic Society is said to have "an international council" that "assures the cooperation of the branches", but the international council's composition is not well known.

Leadership

Chairmans of the Akhadic Society

Kamran Akçam, Chairman of the Akhadic Society from 1569 to 1595 and first Zargistani to hold such position.

• Founder and first Chairman: (1529-1548) Ishaq Tynay
• 2nd Chairman: (1548-1559) Basam Qazwini
• 3rd Chairman: (1559-1566) Ilsat Amerhanur
• 4th Chairman: (1566-1569) Aynur Timerur
• 5th Chairman: (28 Alvan 1569-1595) Kamran Akçam
• 6th Chairman: (1595-present) Okan Saat

The Chairman of the Akhadic Society is the highest position in the organization, holding the political leadership of the organization. The Chairman is appointed by the Akhadic Council and it serves until he dies, resigns, or the Akhadic Council decides to appoint another member as chairman. However, since 1559, the influence of the Chairman is often shadowed by the most senior member of the Akhadic Council, the Speaker of the Guidance Committee, which serves as spiritual leader of the movement. Since 1561, that position has been held by Yasher Suleyman.

Branches

Khanid

The headquarters of the Akhadic Society are found in Ishanbal, Khanid. The local branch was established in 1533, and since then, the Akhadic Society and the Khanid state have had a complicated relationship. The Khanid government became one of the main and earliest financial backers of the movement, and Ishaq Tynay -the founder and leader of the Akhadic Society- moved and established in Khanid, where he lived until his death, in 1548. Tynay did not involve personally in political affairs within the Kingdom, and he lived a reclusive existence outside the capital city. However, he and his disciples took control of Khanid's intellectual life by publishing books and participating in theological and religious newspapers and journals. Although the organization had no formal political role in the Kingdom, Akhadic Society members became entrenched both in Khanid society and state, taking a leading role in key governmental ministries. In particular, many established themselves in Khanid's educational system. Although relations between the Akhadic Society and the Khanid state became strained since the late 1550s, many experts believe that Khanid's education system remains controlled by the Akhadic Society.

The Akhadic Society expressed support for Khanid role in the Wadiyah crisis, a declaration believed to be aimed to improve relations with the Khanid state.

Zargistan

The activities of the Akhadic Society in Zargistan were suspended in early 1559. Since Kamran Akçam, a Zargistani national, became Chairman of the Akhadic Society, the membership and influence of the Akhadic Society has increased considerably in the country. In 1576, an Akhadic Society-supported political party, the Traditionalist Party of Zargistan (Geleneksel partisi) was founded, but the party was not allowed to register legally.

Ga'bath

The Akhadic Society supports and funds the Faith Coalition, an Akhadist political party, which was banned by the Ga'bathi government in 1578. Previously, members of the Akhadic Society had founded the Youth Akhadic Movement. Five of their members were executed in 1571, accused of involvement in a terrorist conspiracy.

Kyrzbekistan

Unlike many Kyrzbek moderate organizations and tribal leaders, the Akhadic Society rejected cooperation with the local governments established in the Qenderi Commonwealth. Instead, the Akhadic Society started a campaign of education through many religious schools and charity organizations. Arberian King Kreshnik II suspended the activities of many of the Akhadic Society-associated organizations in 1556, and many prominent members of the Akhadic Society in the kingdom were arrested.

In the late 1550s, the Akhadic Society supported the creation of the Tradition and Justice Party, an Akhadist political party. In 1563, Tradition and Justice joined the Kyrzbek Front, and some Akhadic Society members have some important positions in the short-lived Akhadic Republic of Kyrzbekistan (1563-1568). The Tradition and Justice Party decided to boycott the first elections to the Democratic Republic of Kyrzbekistan, and it was suspended shortly afterwards and many of their members were arrested, while other fled to exile to A'sir and other countries.

In 1570, the Akhadic Society supported the creation of the Kyrzbek National Party, an Akhadic conservative party, which found its stronghold in the eastern state. The Kyrzbek National Party had disappointing results over the next decade, failing to gain enough support nationwide, but it had its most successful result in the 1582 state elections, when Elbrus Almasur, a Kyrzbek National Party candidate, became Governor of the state of Yartushia (eastern Kyrzbekistan) and formed a regional coalition government with the Conservative Reform Coalition, a center-right conservative party. However, Elbrus Almasur was defeated four years later by Toktamish Narimanur, an independent candidate supported by Kyrzbekistan's ruling Socialist People's Party.

New Galasia

The activities of the Akhadic Society in the country were suspended in 1579, and many Akhadic Society members were arrested -some of them executed after the Elvan 1580 coup d'etat or forced to leave the country. The Akhadic Society has supported the Rojadavi separatist forces in the Galasian civil war, contributing with financial assistance to the Provisional Council for National Resistance.

Florinthus

In 1572, the Akhadic Society opened a small office in Denil, Florinthus, and four years later an Akhadic Cultural Center, the largest in Western Brigidna, was established. The Florinthian Federation has received many immigrants and refugees from Akhadic countries, and the Akhadic Society has offered them financial and material support, through many of Akhadic Society-funded education and charity organizations, and providing financial backing to the building of Akhadic temples in the Western Brigidnan country.

Bekir Nurmambet, a Kyrzbekistani-born billonaire, who lives in Florinthus and has invested considerably in the country, and owner of the Tarleton AA football club since 1576, is a well-known member of the Akhadic Society.

Mordvania

The Mordvanian Organization of Akhadic Belivers, one of the two largest Akhadic organizations in the Republic of Mordvania, is associated with the Akhadic Society.

Further reading

• Akhadism