Abdullah Cevdet
Encyclopedia
Abdullah Cevdet ) was an Ottoman intellectual and a medical doctor by profession of Kurdish descent. He was also a poet, translator, radical free-thinker and an ideologist of the Young Turks
who led the Westernization movement in the Ottoman Empire
from 1908 until 1918.
Cevdet was influenced by materialistic philosophies of the West and antagonistic towards institutionalized religion. He published articles on socio-religious, political, economic and literary issues in the periodical İctihad, which he founded in 1904 in Geneva
and used to promote his modernist
thoughts. He was arrested and expelled from his country several times due to his political activities and lived in Europe
(e.g. London
, Paris
).
The overall goal of Young Turks
such as Cevdet was to bring to end the regime of Sultan Abdülhamid II. For this purpose Cevdet and four other medical students at the Military Medical Academy in Constantinople founded the secret "Committee of Union and Progress
" (CUP) in 1889. Initially with no political agenda, it became politicized by several leaders and factions and mounted a revolution against Abdülhamid II in 1908. However, Abdullah Cevdet was not politically involved in the CUP but promoted his secular ideas until his death.
He was also involved in several Kurdish organisations formed after the 1908 revolution. He wrote of the Kürd Teavün ve Tarakki newspaper as well as the two journals published by the Kürd Hevi organisation. Prior to the First World War, his involvement with the Kurdish associations did not contradict his Ottomanism. However, after 1918, he took part in the Kürdistan Teali organisation, which did in fact advocate Kurdish self rule (and founded by the British Power in the Ottoman Turkey to put it into parts, which was finally achieved and Britain ruled over the Middle East
ern countries for years).
He was tried a few times because some of his writings were considered as blasphemy against Islam
and the prophet Muhammad
. For this reason he was labelled as the "eternal enemy of Islam" (Süssheim, EI) and called "Aduvullah" (the enemy of God). Probably his most famous court case was due to his praising the Bahá'í Faith
in his article in İctihad, 1 March 1922. Abdullah Cevdet was one of the intellectuals, who influenced Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
in his reforms of secularization in Turkey
.
, which was used as a mosque
at that time. However, nobody claimed his coffin, and it was expressed that he did not deserve Islamic funeral prayer. Following an appeal of Peyami Safa, a notable writer, the funeral prayer was performed. His body was then taken by city servants to the Merkezefendi Cemetery
for burial.
Young Turks
The Young Turks , from French: Les Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favouring reformation of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. The movement was against the absolute monarchy of the Ottoman Sultan and favoured a re-installation of the short-lived Kanûn-ı Esâsî constitution...
who led the Westernization movement in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
from 1908 until 1918.
Cevdet was influenced by materialistic philosophies of the West and antagonistic towards institutionalized religion. He published articles on socio-religious, political, economic and literary issues in the periodical İctihad, which he founded in 1904 in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
and used to promote his modernist
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
thoughts. He was arrested and expelled from his country several times due to his political activities and lived in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(e.g. London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
).
The overall goal of Young Turks
Young Turks
The Young Turks , from French: Les Jeunes Turcs) were a coalition of various groups favouring reformation of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. The movement was against the absolute monarchy of the Ottoman Sultan and favoured a re-installation of the short-lived Kanûn-ı Esâsî constitution...
such as Cevdet was to bring to end the regime of Sultan Abdülhamid II. For this purpose Cevdet and four other medical students at the Military Medical Academy in Constantinople founded the secret "Committee of Union and Progress
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress began as a secret society established as the "Committee of Ottoman Union" in 1889 by the medical students İbrahim Temo, Abdullah Cevdet, İshak Sükuti and Ali Hüseyinzade...
" (CUP) in 1889. Initially with no political agenda, it became politicized by several leaders and factions and mounted a revolution against Abdülhamid II in 1908. However, Abdullah Cevdet was not politically involved in the CUP but promoted his secular ideas until his death.
He was also involved in several Kurdish organisations formed after the 1908 revolution. He wrote of the Kürd Teavün ve Tarakki newspaper as well as the two journals published by the Kürd Hevi organisation. Prior to the First World War, his involvement with the Kurdish associations did not contradict his Ottomanism. However, after 1918, he took part in the Kürdistan Teali organisation, which did in fact advocate Kurdish self rule (and founded by the British Power in the Ottoman Turkey to put it into parts, which was finally achieved and Britain ruled over the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
ern countries for years).
He was tried a few times because some of his writings were considered as blasphemy against Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and the prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. For this reason he was labelled as the "eternal enemy of Islam" (Süssheim, EI) and called "Aduvullah" (the enemy of God). Probably his most famous court case was due to his praising the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
in his article in İctihad, 1 March 1922. Abdullah Cevdet was one of the intellectuals, who influenced Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
in his reforms of secularization in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Death
Left alone in his final years, Abdullah Cevdet died on 29 November 1932. His body was brought for religious funeral service to Hagia SophiaHagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
, which was used as a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
at that time. However, nobody claimed his coffin, and it was expressed that he did not deserve Islamic funeral prayer. Following an appeal of Peyami Safa, a notable writer, the funeral prayer was performed. His body was then taken by city servants to the Merkezefendi Cemetery
Merkezefendi Cemetery
The Merkezefendi Cemetery is a burial ground situated in Merkezefendi neighborhood of Zeytinburnu district on the European part of Istanbul, Turkey.Many renowned intellectuals, writers and artists rest in this old cemetery covering an area of ....
for burial.