Liberalism in Turkey

[5] Citing social unrest in the wake of the Ottoman's defeat in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Abdul Hamid II took the opportunity to suspend parliament.

[7][8][9][10] He reigned for 93 days before being deposed on the grounds that he was supposedly mentally ill on 31 August 1876; however, his opponents may simply have used that as a pretext to stop his implementation of democratic reforms under a constitution.

[11] The Tanzimât, literally meaning reorganization of the Ottoman Empire, was a period of reformation that began in 1839 and ended with the First Constitutional Era in 1876.

In the edict the Sultan stated that he wished "to bring the benefits of a good administration to the provinces of the Ottoman Empire through new institutions."

Among the reforms, were the abolition of slavery and slave trade,[21] the decriminalization of homosexuality, the establishment of the Civil Service School, an institution of higher learning for civilians,[22] the Press and Journalism Regulation Code,[21][22] and the Nationality Law of 1869 which created a common Ottoman citizenship irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation.

[32] Among the prominent members of this society were writers and publicists such as İbrahim Şinasi, Namık Kemal, Ali Suavi, Ziya Pasha, and Agah Efendi.

Although this period was short lived, with Abdülhamid ultimately suspending the constitution and parliament in 1878 in favor of a return to absolute monarchy with himself in power,[5] the legacy and influence of the Young Ottomans continued to endure until the collapse of the empire.