Modern

Muslim World

BAHU3073
Session 4
Moderinity of Muslim
Civilization

The modern Turkey

Treaty of sevres
The treaty of sevres was signed with the Ottoman after WWI.

The other party was Great Britain, Italy and France representing the victorious
Allies.

It was to be signed on August 10 1920.

The terms of the treaty were very harsh and most of the Ottoman Empire were
angered by the terms.

The terms were mostly about the territorial distribution, financial control and
political reforms of the empire.
Terms of the Treaty
Most of the strategic locations and
cities of historical importance were
distributed among Greece, Italy, France
and Britain.

The straits and important ports were

made to be “Free Zones” and
international waterway were also
made international with no control of
the empire over it.
There was unfair segregation of areas where people of same sects were residing
which created a wave of unrest among those People.
Terns of the Treaty
The financial consequences of the treaty were harsh for the ottomans as well who
were denied control over their finance and economy and were given to the allies.
This included control over banks, import/exports, control of national budget,
reforms of tax system and even request for loans.

Treaty also gave the Allies the right to reform the electoral system of the empire.

Grand Vizier of the time Ahmed Pasha Planned to ratify the treaty bu faced
absolute rebellion by the nationalist leader Mustafa Kemal Pasha.

Kemal believed it was the leaders of the empire who had taken the people into
WWI, therefore people should no be punished for the actions of their leaders. His
stand led the victorious Allies to start negotiations afresh.
Treaty of Lausanne
Treaty of Lausanne was the second attempt to come come to a consensus about
the future of the territories under the Ottomans but between a different
leadership.

The conference at Lausanne began in November 1922, Kemal's Ankara

government was the sole representative of Turkey.

Ismet Inönü led the Turkish delegation as the newly appointed foreign minister. He
was determined to reestablish Turkish sovereignty and negotiate terms with the
other party as equals.
Terms of the treaty
The Lausanne conference resulted in seventeen diplomatic instruments.

Turkey recognized the loss of its Arab provinces, but plans for an independent
Armenia and an autonomous Kurdistan were abandoned.

The Greeks lost their zone around Izmir. Turkish territory in Europe Expanded, but
control over Mosul in Iraq and Alexandretta in Syria remained with the British and
French respectively.

European powers no longer demanded capitulation, and although Turkey agreed to

minor financial burdens and tariff restrictions, there were to be no war reparations.
Finally, the conference recognized Turkish sovereignty over the straits, although
there were some concessions in the form of a demilitarized zone and an
international commission to supervise transit through the straits.

In short, Ismet achieved virtually all that nationalist Turkey under Kemal's leadership
desired.

The prominent articles of the treaty included, territorial clauses, Nationality,

Protection of minorities and Financial clauses.
Modern Turkey
Ataturk’s Reforms
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk embarked on a regime of radical reforms once he had the
reins of the country in his hands. His reforms encompassed a wide spectrum of the
socio-political and cultural issues

On the political front, his reforms ushered Turkey into the era of Republicanism for
Kemal passionately believed that it is only a Republican authority, which can fulfil
the aspirations of the citizens and instill a sense of oneness among the people.

He adopted a populist policy whereby all special class privileges were abolished.
Kemal often quoted that no one rose above the state and acknowledged the
supremacy of the Turkish citizenry.
Ataturk’s Reforms
Between 1926 and 1930, Kemal initiated many legal reforms, which paved the way
for the emergence of Turkey as a secular state. His dream was a state where
religion did not interfere with administration, education and law and where religion
did not overshadow free thinking and free institutions.

Turkey may be a unique exemplar of issues with respect to secularization. Turkey is

the only secular country with a Muslim majority population and is a country
without a state religion.
Ataturk’s reforms and a Secular Turkey
Between 1923 and 1937, Mustafa Kemal implemented secular reforms directed
towards political structure, administration, education, law, and social life. For
example, the Law on the Unification of Education, issued March 3rd, 1924, had far
reaching implications for the government’s position on religion.

As a result, madrasahs were closed and the entire education system became
“secularized” as it fell under state control. In 1930, all religious schools were closed,
and in 1933 faculties of theology met the same fate.
Ataturk’s reforms and a Secular Turkey
Furthermore, even optional religion classes were removed from the secondary
education curriculum in 1931, and from primary school curriculum in 1935, which
completed the secularization of the public school system

Much like the school system, the Turkish Judicial system was secularized with the
closure of Sharia courts April 8th 1924. This effort was then furthered by the
adoption of the Swiss civil code February 17th 1926, abolishing polygamy.

In addition, this reform afforded increased equality for women regarding issues
such as inheritance and divorce, and even amended the Penal code. With these
changes, Swiss, Italian, and German law practices were adapted for use in Turkey
Ataturk’s reforms and a Secular Turkey
The secularization of Turkey under Kemalism left no stone unturned, and on
November 1st 1928, the Arabic alphabet was replaced with the Latin alphabet. This
change clearly favored the Western World over the Arab World.

The wave of secularization and westernization in Turkey went far beyond legal
reforms, as a new worldview and lifestyle were created in effort to shift away from
more traditional Islamic practices and way of life.

On June 21st 1934 the surname law banned traditional titles of lineage and
adopted Turkish surnames. These were mostly determined by the authorities and
were given to everyone. That same year, Mustafa Kemal was given the surname
Atatürk (The Father of Turks).
 Implications of Discussion…
Secularism in Is Secularism a good idea
Turkey for a Muslim Country?

Social and Religious Aspects

Where did Mustafa Kemal
Political Aspects
fail?