Mendi Bassaddi

**Mendi Bassaddi (Men'dhi Vohn Bassaddii)** (1925-1991) was the head of state and dictator of the Republic of Hurkey from 1964, until his death in 1991. Bassaddi took power after the coup of 1964, placing him as head of state over former Hurkan president Ali Honachez, who was seen as anti-Microchiasm and anti-conservative, opposing both movements which were on the rise and gaining overwhelming popular support. Under rule of Bassaddi, religious restrictions were enforced, enabling strict dress codes for men and women, as well as criminalizing the worship of all other religions, destroying other religious buildings, and enforcing mandatory worship in schools, universities, and workplaces. Bassaddi was also known for his ultra-capitalistic policies, privatizing most industries, abolishing minimum wage and many labor laws, and seeing a major spike in extreme poverty rates as his rule continued, which he did not address. Bassaddi was also characterized to rule with an iron fist, as well as criminalizing free speech and protests, nationalizing the press, and persecuting those who spoke against his rule or the government. During his rule, Bassaddi was known for poor foreign policies, making enemies with surrounding nations and being known as a war criminal, which was assumed to cause his assassination in 1991 by the bordering nation of Agtesto. Though Bassaddi did see a lot of support during his reign from inside Hurkey, he is today known as one of the most tyrannical dictators to have lived.

## Early Life

Men'dhi Vohn Bassaddii was born in 1925 to a middle-income household in Barradash, a major city in the Heyan-occupied Hurkey. Mendi was the third oldest of nine children, a family which included 4 sons and 5 daughters. From his early days, he was raised to be hyper-religious, attending church every week and growing fond of Microchiasm as a religion. Mendi was also raised in a nationalistic household, holding far-conservative political leanings and since he was a teenager, strived for Hurkan independence.

## Military Career

At age 17, in 1942, Bassaddi made the decision to forgo his education and join the Hurkan ground of the Heyan military, a career which he would hold for 14 more years. Bassaddi would join other nationalist sectors of the military, meeting likeminded militants in the military that also desired independence from Heya, as well as desiring individualistic policies and the combination of religion and state. For these years in service, Bassaddi would drive himself up the ranks along with his older brother, earning more and more respect from his peers, and being seen as a leader. His older brother, Ni'Khon Mahen Bassaddii, was hospitalized after armed explosives detonated on accident, and eventually died due to sustained injuries, which was one of the reasons for Mendi's mental health struggles as he rose up the ranks.

## Hurkan Nationalist Party Career

In 1956, wanting to be involved more in politics, Bassaddi left the military, joining the Hurkan Nationalist Party, earning immediate respect due to his experience in the military. Bassaddi spoke at events and influenced many political decisions made by the party, earning importance within the group and being a consistent frontrunner as the leader of the nationalists. As others high up in the party ran for positions in the Heyan-led Hurkan government, Bassaddi chose to stay directly within the organization, speaking and leading at events and quickly rising to prominence.

In 1960, Heya signed the Military Occupation Limitation Act, issued by dozens of other countries in the United League, wanting to limit Heyan influence both economically and militarily. This severely hindered Heyan influence in Hurkey, causing many movements for complete independence. However, current president Ali Honachez, appointed by Heya and holding the highest position within the state for more than a decade, was against independence, wanting to rely on Heya for trade, weapons, food, and other resources. Many retaliated to this, with increased propaganda set out by the Hurkan Nationalist party, and the opinion of Honachez shrinking with his ongoing support with Heya. The Nationalists also influenced public opinion by calling Ali Honachez anti-Microchiasm and anti-conservative values, showcasing countless decisions made by Honachez that were perceived that way. In the coming years, he had dwindling public support, which fueled many candidates to run against him for the upcoming 1964 election, including Bassaddi himself, who ran for president for the first time ever as one of the highest positions in the party itself, and gaining mass public support.

Despite indications that Bassaddi would win, gaining more public support than Honachez, current president Honachez would reach out to Heya, claiming that the country was to be "lost" and claim independence from Heya if he had lost. Heya agreed to help by monitoring the elections closely and pursuing action if Honachez were to lose power and an opposing force were to declare independence. However, despite all this, Honachez would still win anyways, with many speculating voter fraud, faulty counting of ballots, and dishonesty surrounding the Honachez administration. Meanwhile, during the 1964 election, the nationalists claimed a majority in seats regardless, which still posed as a threat to Honachez.

The Hurkan Nationalists were furious after the election, claiming it was stolen and that Bassaddi was the rightful leader. With the nationalists holding a majority of seats in the government, they planned a coup, wanting to overthrow the current government, expel all opposing leaders, and announce Bassaddi as the new president, which would grant the nationalists full rule over the government and aide the country how they wanted to.