Mustafa Shokay Is Not a Traitor – Abdulvahap Kara

Doctor of History and Shokay scholar Abdulvahap Kara, in an interview given to the YouTube channel of the “Kazakhstan History” portal, spoke about the baseless accusations made against Mustafa Shokay by the Soviet Union. This was reported by El.kz with reference to e-history.kz.

During the Soviet era, a massive slander campaign was launched against Mustafa Shokay to portray him as a villain to his own people. They accused him of “collaborating with Hitler” and called him a traitor. In reality, Mustafa Shokay had no connection whatsoever with Hitler. On the contrary, he understood who Hitler was and what Nazism represented better than many educated people of his time. He had been living in Europe since 1921, witnessed the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s, knew their ideology well, and understood that it had nothing to offer to Kazakhstan or Turkestan, the scholar explains.

Refusing the “Turkestan Legion” – A Heroic Act Equal to Death

Nazi Germany attempted to use Turkic peoples for its own strategic purposes by creating the “Turkestan Legion.” The leadership of this project was offered to Mustafa Shokay. However, he categorically refused.

After Hitler occupied France, Mustafa Shokay was arrested and taken to prison camps. The “Turkestan Legion” project was just beginning at the time. The Germans offered him the position of commander-in-chief, but he firmly rejected it: “I will not work with you. Release me. I want to return home,” he said. Eventually, the Germans let him go, according to Kara.

The historian adds that some theories suggest he was not released merely out of goodwill — he might have been poisoned. He planned to return to France from the Częstochowa camp located near Ukraine.

A Symbol of Truth and Courage

Mustafa Shokay died suddenly on his way to Berlin. He was a man who opposed Nazism and refused to cooperate with the German authorities. Although Soviet propaganda tried to depict him as a traitor, in reality he was a hero who gave his life for the freedom of his people.

By refusing to work with the Nazis, Mustafa Shokay sacrificed his life. He knew well the dangerous and deceptive nature of fascism. But the Soviet Union falsely accused him. According to Abdulvahap Kara, the Soviet regime directed one of the largest slanders in history against Mustafa Shokay. “If there were a competition in slander, the Soviet Union would win first place for what they accused Shokay of,” he says.

It should also be noted that at that time it was extremely dangerous to say “no” to the Germans. But Mustafa Shokay was not afraid of death. He spoke with bravery — for his people, for their independence, for their future. That is why Mustafa Shokay is not a traitor, but a great hero, Kara emphasizes.

Mustafa Shokay is not just a historical figure — he is the moral conscience of his nation, a symbol of independence. His resistance to fascism and colonial oppression remains an example for future generations. He was never a traitor; on the contrary, he sacrificed his life for his people.