Alimcan Idris

Alimcan Idris aka Alim Idris (1887-1959) was a Russian-born Uzbek Islamic theologian, teacher and reporter.
Biography.
Alimcan Idris was born to an owner of a large farm in Russia. During the years 1902–1907, he studied at a high grade Madrasa in Bukhara. After that, he continued to study theology and philosophy in Istanbul. Later, Idris worked at the Teacher's Institute in Orenburg. In 1912, he again supplemented his knowledge by studying in Europe, for example at the University of Lausanne.
When World War I began, Idris traveled back to Istanbul, where he worked as a reporter at a Pan-Turkic magazine Türk Yurdu"."
In 1916, Alimcan Idris settled in Germany, where he operated as a spiritual leader for Muslim prisoners at the Weinberg war camp in Wünsdorf. The camp was originally created for Muslim prisoners who originated from Russia. The prisoners numbered approximately 12 000 and they were mostly Volga Tatars and Bashkirs. The apparent good conditions of the prisoners served as a propaganda for the German government. For the prisoners of the Islamic faith, there was a separate cemetery at Zahrensdorf, called Efrenfriedhof, where approximately 400 Tatars were buried. In the city, there was also a war camp called Halbmondlager.
During his time at the camp, Idris was the reporter of multiple magazines that were distributed to the prisoners. He also helped the prisoners in various ways; for example, he organized returns to home for them, or the possibility to emigrate to Turkey, and an opportunity to learn German. Idris as well helped some prisoners abroad, like fellow teacher Gibadulla Murtasin, who was captured during the war and transferred to Denmark. Idris was able to bring him and other prisoners to Germany where he could help them better.
In late 1920's, Alimcan Idris moved to Finland where he operated as a teacher for the children of the Tatar community. Among the community, Idris has been described as a demanding teacher and a tenacious spokesman of a "Turkish identity". He was involved in the founding of a school for the children. In 1929, he spoke at a wedding, where he said for example the following: ".."it's a shame that there's no Turkish school in this country, a school where the children of our community could educate themselves.."". After the inspiring speech, money was raised and the school was established. In early 1930's, Idris also taught at Narva.
Alimcan Idris traveled back to Germany, where the Nazi government took advantage of his language skills. He worked in the foreign department of the German radio, where he reported programs in Arabic and Turkish. After World War II ended, Idris moved to Saudi Arabia.
Alimcan Idris went back to visit Finland multiple times during the 1940s and 1950s, especially Tampere, where its Tatar community would play him his favorite song called "Mahbüs şahzade", which has been interpreted as reminding him of his days at the war camp.
Alimcan Idris died in Saudi Arabia. He was buried in Munich, Germany, where his children lived.
Family.
Alimcan Idris was married to Şemselbenat Idris. They had three children: boys Urhan and Ildar and a daughter, Gölnar.