Correspondence Relating to Executions in Turkey for Apostacy from Islamism

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Title: Correspondence Relating to Executions in Turkey for Apostacy from Islamism

Author: Various

Release Date: January 18, 2007 [EBook #20394]

Language: French and English

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Produced by John Bechard (JaBBechard@aol.com)

[stamped:] BIBLIOTHQUE DU PALAIS DE LA PAIX

Presented to the House of Lords, by Her Majesty's Command.

May, 1844.

No. 1.

Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen.(ReceivedSeptember 20.)

(Extract.) Buyukder, August 27, 1843.

Within the last few days an execution has taken place atConstantinople under circumstances which have occasioned muchexcitement and indignation among the Christian inhabitants. Thesufferer was an Armenian youth of eighteen or twenty years, whohaving, under fear of punishment, declared himself a Turk, went tothe Island of Syra, and returning, after an absence of some length,resumed his former religion. Apprehensive of the danger but resolvednot to deny his real faith a second time, he kept out of sight tillaccident betrayed him to the police, and he was then thrown intoprison. In spite of threats, promises, and blows, he theremaintained his resolution, refused to save his life by a freshdisavowal of Christianity, and was finally decapitated in one of themost frequented parts of the city with circumstances of greatbarbarity.

Inclosed herewith is a statement of the particulars drawn up by Mr.
Alison.

It is not merely on grounds of humanity that I would draw yourLordship's attention to this incident: political considerations ofserious importance are connected with it; and on this account, noless than from regard for the tears and entreaties of a distractedfamily, I exhausted my influence in vain endeavours to divert thePorte from its purpose. Every Member of the Council to whom Iapplied, returned the same answer, expressing a willingness to meetmy wishes, and regretting the inexorable necessity of the law.

For my own part I do not believe that any such necessity exists. Thedetermination of the Government to sacrifice the Armenian youth, inspite of my earnest solicitations, unless he recanted publicly, ispart and parcel of that system of reaction which preceded my arrivalhere, against which I have constantly struggled, and which,notwithstanding the assurances given to me, and the efforts of itspartisans to conceal it, is day by day gaining strength, to thedespair of every enlightened Turkish statesman, to the prejudice ofour relations with this country, and to the visible decline of thoseimprovements which, in my humble judgment, can alone avert thedissolution of the Sultan's empire.

The law, which, in this instance, has torn a youth from the bosom ofhis family, and consigned him to an ignominious and cruel death,would apply with equal force to a subject of any Christian Power.

Such of my colleagues as I have consulted upon this subject appearto take a view of it similar to my own, I refer, in particular, tothe Austrian, French, Russian, and Prussian Ministers: each of themhas told me that he intended to recommend the question to theserious consideration of his Government.

Since my arrival here one British and two French subjects havedeclared in favour of Mahomedanism, and much difficulty has beenexperienced in dealing with the individuals concerned. The Britishsubject, a Maltese, returned to the Catholic faith a few days afterhe had declared himself a Turk, and he was privately conveyed out ofthis country. The Porte, on that occasion, evidently identified thechange of allegiance with the change of creed, and not only would atrifling incident have sufficed to raise the question arising out ofthat principle between Her Majesty's Embassy and the Porte, but hadthe man been arrested after his recantation, I should perhaps havebeen reduced to the necessity of putting all to hazard in order tosnatch him from the hands of the executioner.

The only* Articles relating to this matter in our Capitulations withthe Porte are the sixty-first and seventy-first. The French have anArticle of similar meaning in their capitulations, and by the Treatyof Kainardji between Russia and the Porte it was agreed thatindividuals who had changed their religion should be mutuallyexempted from the operation of the Article, which otherwisestipulates for the extradition of refugees and malefactors.

* Article LXI.That if any Englishman should turn Turk, and itshould be represented and proved that besides his own goods he hasin his hands any property belonging to another person in England,such property shall be taken from him and delivered up to theAmbassador or Consul, that they may convey the same to the ownerthereof.

Article LXXI.That should any Englishman coming with merchandizeturn Turk, and the goods so imported by him be proved to belong tomerchants of his own country, from whom he had taken them, the wholeshall be detained, with the ready money, and delivered up to theAmbassador, in order to his transmitting the same to the rightowners, without any of our judges or officers interposing anyobstacle or hindrance thereto.

Under these impressions I trust that your Lordship will not think Ihave exceeded the bounds of prudence in stating confidentially,though without reserve, to the Grand Vizier the impressions madeupon my mind by the recent execution. Couched as my message was inrespectful and kindly terms, I hope it will operate as a salutaryadmonition. The interpreter's report of his Highness' reply isinclosed with this despatch.

Inclosure l in No. 1.

Case of the Armenian Avakim, son of Yagya, of the parish of TopKapousee.

About a year and a half ago Avakim having had a drunken quarrel withsome neighbours, was sentenced at the War Office to receive 500bastinadoes.

Fear and intoxication induced him to become a Mussulman, and he wasconducted on the spot to the Mehkem where the name of Mehemet wasgiven him.

Some days afterwards Avakim repented of what he had done, and fledto Syra, from whence he returned a few months ago.

About three months ago, while returning from his sister's house witha small bundle containing wearing apparel, he was recognized by theKolaga of the quarter, Mustapha, and denounced at the War Office ofhaving renegaded from Islamism. He was then submitted to the mostcruel punishment to compel him to re-abandon his original belief,and was even paraded through the streets with his hands tied behindhis back as if for execution. Avakim, however, unintimidated bytorture or the prospect of death, proclaimed aloud his firm beliefin Christianity, and was led forth to suffer on Wednesday lastamidst the execrations of the Ulema partisans.

Only one man, Taouk-Bazarli Ali, among the thirty armed police whoconducted him, could be prevailed upon to strike the blow. Many ofthe Turks spat on him as they passed, and openly reviled the faithfor which he had died. A Yafta, in the following terms, was affixedon the opposite shop:

"The Armenian shoemaker, Avakim, son of Yagya, having last year, inthe beginning of Moharrem, while at an age of discretion, acceptedIslamism, and received the name of Mehemet, some time afterwardsrenegaded, and having now obstinately persisted in refusing theproffer made to him by the law to re-become a Moslem, sentence ofdeath was awarded unto him according to fetwa, and he has therebysuffered."