Tehcir
Encyclopedia
Tehcir is an Ottoman concept which resembles the current notions of "population transfer
". From dictionary definition, Tehcir means, relocating a population or a sub population from one region to another within a country or a territory that the enforcing agent has the control. Tehcir was used as a governmental tool to deal with inter-ethnic or security related issues during the Ottoman era. The most famous application of the law is explained under "Tehcir Law
".
Tehcir is a concept, as used in the Ottoman Empire
, which also lies in the arguments of Armenian Genocide
. Armenian Genocide
claims that Tehcir Law
was a tool to destroy the Armenian people. Tehcir must not be confused with deportation
, which is expulsion of foreigners from a country
, or banishment, exile
, penal transportation
and extradition
, which generally means the expulsion of native or foreign residents from a country. Ottoman use of Tehcir as forced relocation within the same territory is distinctly different than deportation, exile and extradition from a territory.
Population transfer
Population transfer is the movement of a large group of people from one region to another by state policy or international authority, most frequently on the basis of ethnicity or religion...
". From dictionary definition, Tehcir means, relocating a population or a sub population from one region to another within a country or a territory that the enforcing agent has the control. Tehcir was used as a governmental tool to deal with inter-ethnic or security related issues during the Ottoman era. The most famous application of the law is explained under "Tehcir Law
Tehcir Law
The Tehcir Law was passed by the Ottoman Parliament on May 27, 1915 and allegedly came into force on June 1, 1915, with publication in Takvim-i Vekayi, the official gazette of the Ottoman State...
".
Tehcir is a concept, as used 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...
, which also lies in the arguments of Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
. Armenian Genocide
Armenian Genocide
The Armenian Genocide—also known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, by Armenians, as the Great Crime—refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I...
claims that Tehcir Law
Tehcir Law
The Tehcir Law was passed by the Ottoman Parliament on May 27, 1915 and allegedly came into force on June 1, 1915, with publication in Takvim-i Vekayi, the official gazette of the Ottoman State...
was a tool to destroy the Armenian people. Tehcir must not be confused with deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
, which is expulsion of foreigners from a country
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
, or banishment, exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
, penal transportation
Penal transportation
Transportation or penal transportation is the deporting of convicted criminals to a penal colony. Examples include transportation by France to Devil's Island and by the UK to its colonies in the Americas, from the 1610s through the American Revolution in the 1770s, and then to Australia between...
and extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
, which generally means the expulsion of native or foreign residents from a country. Ottoman use of Tehcir as forced relocation within the same territory is distinctly different than deportation, exile and extradition from a territory.