The present study discusses the bindingness of sheikdom (sheiks) in opinion leadership ac-tivities in the case of Siirt. The current influence of sheikdom in shaping public opinion was compared with the past, and the reasons behind the transformation in this influence were inves-tigated. In this qualitative field study, data collection was carried out using the interview method. Purposeful and snowball sampling methods were used in the sample selection process. A total of 50 individuals, 24 of which were associated with sheikdom and 26 of which had no cultic association, were interviewed. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data. At the end of the study, the transformation in the opinion leadership of sheiks was subsumed under six cat-egories: a. Conditional bindingness (adopting the sheik’s opinion on condition that it provides practical self-benefit), b. failure to comply with the sheik’s suggestions, c. intergenerational differentiation, d. remembering the sheik when needed, e. loss of influence in intermediacy, and f. loss of influence over shaping the political preferences of disciples. It was determined that five internal factors and five external factors were effective in sheikdom’s loss of influence. The internal factors can be listed as: a. Sheiks’ disconnection from society, b. their close rela-tions with politics, c. representation of sheikdom by incompetent individuals, d. the increase in inherited sheikdom (the passing of sheikdom from father to son), and e. sheiks engaging in eco-nomic activities. The external factors can be listed as: a. the increase in the level of education, b. migration and urbanization, c. individualization, d. ideological approaches, and e. the black propaganda carried out against sheiks by PKK and the emergence of new actors.