The historical meaning of Taksim Topcu Barracks that makes PM Erdogan so insistent to construct it once again and demolish the Atatürk Cultural Center right beside
104 years later, a democratic life movement
Insurgents with green flags in their hands, shouting "we want Sharia law" slogans stormed the parliament. They killed Minister of Justice Nazim Pasha and parliament member from Latakia Emir Aslan Bey. They butchered Naval Major Ali Kabuli Bey on Yildiz Palace garden.
On March 31 (April 13) 1909, in Istanbul, Taksim Topçu Barracs was the core of the counter-revolutionary movement which started with "we want Sharia law" slogans. 104 years after this event, on May 31st, 2013, in the square where the old barracks once used to be, a democratic and libertarian people movment is born. Therefore, it's beneficial to look at the history of Taksim Topçu Barracks shortly. (*)
Sultan Abdülhamit the 2nd, was brought to power by the Young Turks as he promised to declare the first constitution of the Ottoman Empire in 1876; but Abdülhamit suspended the constitution as soon as possible, and started to apply a 33-years long absolute and oppressive regime. Against this oppressive government The Young Turks organized by uniting under "İttihat ve Terakki" party (Union and Progress party). Sultan Abdulhamid assumed that the unrest of the country can be prevented by strengthening the Islamist movement.
Islamist movement belived that the main cause of deterioration of state affairs was the abandonment of religious rules on state administration. Sultan Abdülhamid emphasising on politics based on Islamism, used the institution of the Halifelik (caliphate) as an instrument of internal and external politics as part of this policy. Sultan Abdulhamid, put all writers and thinkers under pressure, some of them by puting on a payroll and some of them by deporting.
At last a freedom movement broke out in Rumeli against 30 years of opressive government. On July 3rd 1908, Resneli Niyazi Bey rebelled and took his men to the mountain for resistance. He was then followed by Major Enver Bey and by Ohrili Eyup Sabri Bey. Drastic measures taken by Istanbul government was not able to producing results.
On July 24th 1908 Sultan Abdülhamit was forced to declare the 2nd constitutionalism. 32 years later once again elections were held in 1876 and parliament re-opened in December 17th 1908. Parliament was reinstated but Sultan and Grand Vizier could not keep up to the new era. Super power of the day Great Britain was influential in Istanbul. Also a government-sided cooperative press was created against the progressive press. The newspapers "Law of the General Staff" by Rifat Mevlanzade, "Volcano" by Dervis Vahdeti and magazines like "Sebilürreşat", "Medrese", "İlmiye" were making aggresive and discriminatory publications.
Association of "İttihat-ı Muhammedi Cemiyeti" (Union of Mohammedism Assoc.) founded by Dervis Vahdeti was organizing itself inside conservative groups. The conflict between non-scholar members and military school graduate members of army was escalating. Medrese (religion school) students were asking the ban on their application to army to be removed. Medrese students held a protest rally on February 27th 1909 at Beyazit Square to protest this ban.
On March 25th 1909, Hasan Fehmi a writer of "Serbesti" (freedom) journal who is against "İttihat ve Terakki" party got killed on Galata Bridge. His funeral service where religious slogans were shouted, turned into a counter movement. A week later, on March 31st 1909 (in old calendar system) a full scale reactionary insurgence broke out in Istanbul. The insurgents were medrese (religion school) students, preachers, religious fanatics and soldiers provoked by non-scholar army officers.
--"We wan't Sharia Law"--
Insurgents stormed the parliament with green flags in their hands, and "We want Sharia Law" slogans. They killed Minister of Justice Nazim Pasha, and Emir Aslan Bey parliament member from Latakia. They have butchered Naval Major Ali Kabuli Bey on Yildiz Palace's garden. Women were beaten up in the streets. Number of deaths had exceeded 20.
All foreign historians asses this event as a counter-revolution, and that it was started and directed by non-scholar reactionary army officers camped at Taksim Topçu Barracks. The complaints by the troops at Taksim Barracks that, due to frequent military drills there were not enough time left for their Namaz (5-time a day daily prayer service) had also an effect.
At the end, mobilized army commanded by Mustafa Kemal as general staff officer, came to Istanbul from Rumeli and suppresed this reactionary insurgency.
Later journalist Orhan Erinç wrote on his column "Geçmişten Geleceğe" (from past to future) that these barracks were sold to a French company. Investigative writer Atilla Oral recounts on his documentary how Mobilized Army came in confrontation with reactionary forces in this barracks when they arrive to Istanbul by making references to the book "Treasons's of Vahdettin Under Protection of Collonial Commissar" documenting Sir Charles Harington's Turkey Memoirs.
Here, 104 years after the events of March 31st 1909, the attempt that started at May 31st 2013 to establish a democratic and free life once again at where Taksim Topcu Barracks used to be is very important.
(*) The historical facts in this article are summarized from the book "Our History of freedom strugles and First Opponents of Revolution" (Özgürlük Mücadeleleri Tarihimiz ve Devrimin İlk Karşıtları, Cumhuriyet kitapları, 2013)
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