What Kurdish feudal and religious leaders had not expected was the rapid secularization measures that Atatürk embarked upon. The most important was the formal abolition of the caliphate in March 1924. These measures were a reason for one now legendary Kurdish leader to join a resistance that had been plotted against the new government by Kurdish nationalists, who were united in the secret movement Azadî (Freedom). His name was Shaykh Said. The Azadî nationalists were caught plotting and were either arrested or backed out, but Shaykh Said had the support of the people and decided to rise up without Azadî.