Who is Abdulaziz Dawud Hudaberdi (Zahid), leader or Uyghur Fighters in Syria?

The official profile of Abdulaziz Dawud Hudaberdi (Zahid), leader of Uyghur fighters in Syria, released in Uyghur by the organization

Editor’s Note: After the Assad regime was ousted in Syria, Islamist fighters celebrated their victory, including members of the Turkistan Islamic Party. Seeking greater recognition and legitimacy among Uyghur diaspora, the group released the full biographical profile of its leader. This biographical profile was originally written and published in Uyghur by Nazar Ikrani, a social media account affiliated with the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), and later translated by Uyghur Times. Uyghur Times did not author, edit, or otherwise contribute to the content.

Who is Abdulaziz Dawud Hudaberdi (Zahid)?

Born on March 7, 1977, in Aral village of Onsu County, Aksu Prefecture, East Turkistan, to a religious Uyghur farming family. Abdulaziz spent his childhood in his hometown.

He started primary education in his local area in 1984. By 1990, he completed primary education in his local school. In the religious atmosphere that encompassed East Turkistan, after finishing primary education, he began studying the Quran and religious education, memorizing the entire Quran by age 19 in 1996. Influenced by the armed uprising in 1996, with his heart burning for the freedom of his people, he began his revolutionary life to contribute his part as a young fighter.

Starting with religious advocacy, revolutionary calls, and unity movements, young Abdulaziz was imprisoned as a political criminal in Chinese prison in 1997, his first year of revolution. Not giving up his revolutionary spirit, in 1998, after release from prison, he decided to continue armed revolution. For preparation, he obtained supplies through illegal means and went to the mountains between Aksu and Ghulja to test weapons and explosives made by his comrades.

The test was discovered by Chinese government operatives, and he was imprisoned again in 1998. After release a year later, in late 1999, he started a business life and established a rice processing factory with others’ help. He continued both business and national revolutionary activities. With his unwavering determination, he began gaining respect among the people.

Until March 2010, he was imprisoned nine times by Chinese communists. Each time after release, he was supported by the people to restart his business. After a short time, all his properties were confiscated and he was imprisoned again. After release, the people supported him to restart business again. Sensing another wave of Chinese communist suppression, Abdulaziz decided to leave the country and continue the revolution abroad. In April 2010, he reached Malaysia through illegal means. On June 2, 2010, using a fake passport, he traveled from Malaysia to Iran, and from Iran to Afghanistan, where he joined the Turkistan Islamic Party.

From October 2010 to October 2012, he completed advanced military training with exceptional performance. His previous courage, skills, and good character earned him respect among various members of the Turkistan Islamic Party. In 2012, with many youth fleeing East Turkistan and the start of the Syrian revolution, he was sent to Syria as a military commander of the Turkistan Islamic Party.

In 2013, he participated in capturing strategic military camps around Aleppo city; Sheikh Suleiman-Regiment 111 military base, liberation of Khan Tuman military organization; in 2015, the capture of Jisr al-Shughur city and Abu Zuhur military airfield; in 2016, breaking the siege of Aleppo city; in 2018, battles in northeastern regions of Idlib; from 2015 to 2019, he commanded 1,256 operations against invading Russian and Iranian armies that reached the mountains in Kibayna, Latakia; in 2020, the recapture of Nirab and battles in Jabal Zawiya regions; from 2015 to 2024, until Syria’s liberation, he commanded front-line battles against Bashar Assad and invading Russian and Iranian mercenary forces.

During these operations, his wife, two sons Mujahid and Abdurazzaq, his father-in-law Abdukhaliq, his closest companion Commander Hassan-Huseyin, and several other close comrades were martyred. In 2021, he graduated from the Military Faculty established in Idlib, Syria. In late November 2024, he commanded the front line of the “Anti-Invasion” military operation and led battles in southern Idlib including Dadikh, Kafr Batikh, Saraqib, Khan Seibal, Maarat Dibsi, Maarat Nu’man, Khan Sheikhun, Murek, Suran, as well as in Hama and Homs provinces, which led to opening the road to the capital Damascus. After the Mujahideen’s victory, a new Syrian government was established under Ahmed al-Sharaa’s leadership. On December 29, 2024, he was appointed as General of the 133rd Division, one of the five divisions in Syria, by order of the Ministry of Defense.

Source: Nazar Ekrani. Date: December 30, 2024