Ottoman Liberty Party

Ottoman Liberty Party Osmanlı Ahrar Fırkası
Last Leader	Prince Sabahaddin
Founded	1908 (1908)
Dissolved	1910 (1910)
Headquarters	Istanbul
Ideology	Liberal nationalism Constitutionalism Liberalism Decentralization
Political position	Centre
Politics of Turkey Political parties Elections

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The Ottoman Liberty Party (Ottoman Turkish: Osmanlı Ahrar Fırkası) was a short-lived liberal political party in the Ottoman Empire during the Second Constitutional Era. It was founded by Prince Sabahaddin, Ahmet Samim, Suat Soyer, Ahmet Reşit Rey, Mehmet Tevfik Bey and Nureddin Ferruh Bey.^[1][2][3]

Founding[]

Nureddin Ferruh Bey, one of the founders

Prince Sabahaddin's  [tr] temporary united with the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) after the Young Turk Revolution, however disagreements with the CUP's military members the issue of decentralization lead to the Ottoman Liberty Party being founded on September 14 1908.

Şevket Bey, member and co-founder

Its founders represented the liberal wing of the Young Turks. Sabahattin did not accept the proposed party chairmanship, but supported the party. No official president was elected to the party. The founders of the party were Nureddin Ferruh, Ahmet Fazlı, Kıbrıslı Tevfik, Nazım, Şevket, Celalettin Arif,  [tr],  [tr],  [tr], Ahmet Samim, Damat Salih Pasha, Fazıl, and Mabeyinci Reşit.

The party program was prepared by Nurettin Ferruh. Count Léon Ostrorog assisted in the preparation of the programme by translating foreign party programs.

1908 election[]

The party did not have much time to organize itself for the 1908 elections, and only fielded candidates in Constantinople. İkdam's issue on election day announced that Grand Vizier Kamil Pasha, Editor-in-Chief of İkdam Ali Kemal, Arif, Fazlı, Ferruh,  [tr], Konstantin Konstanidi, Kirkor Zohrap, and Alber Feraci were on the party lists for the capital. Only Hayreddin, Kozmidi, and Zohrab were elected as MPs, and Pekmen was able to be elected MP from Ankara through his own efforts. Though it wasn't successful in the election, it managed to cobble together a group of 60-70 deputies made up of independents and CUP defectors in parliament.

Decline[]

In the aftermath of the 31 March Incident most of its members faced repression from the CUP government, and some went into exile. Ahmet Fazlı and prince Sabahattin were tried in the court martial and found not guilty and released. Ferruh returned to the country in 1910 and issued a statement that the party was dissolved.

Most of its members would reconvene in a new party a year later, known as the Freedom and Accord Party, but it would be suppressed following the 1913 CUP coup d'etat and Mahmud Shevket Pasha's assassination.

Ideology[]

The party was modeled on the British political tradition and liberal politics. Federalism and de-centralization were core tenants of the party program. The position of the monarchy was not mentioned in the program, due to the

The newspapers İkdam,  [tr], Yeni Gazete, Sadayı Millet and Servet-i Fünun, supported the Liberty party

See also[]

• Liberalism in Turkey

References[]

Citations[]

Bibliography[]

• Tunaya, Tarık Zafer, Türkiye'de Siyasal Partiler, Hürriyet Vakfı Yayınları, 1988
• Tunaya, Türkiye’de Siyasal Partiler C.1, İletişim Yay., İstanbul, 1998, s.176. Kuran, a.g.e.,p.444
• Celal Bayar, Bende Yazdım, C.1, İstanbul 1996, p.194
• Kuran,Ahmed Bedevi, İnkılâp Tarihimiz ve Jön Türkler, İstanbul 1945, p.271
• Prens Sabahattin, Türkiye nasıl Kurtarılabilir ve İzahlar, Ayraç yay., Ankara 1999, s.120-122. Kuran, a.g.e., p.445.
• Kansu, a.g.e., p.242’den naklen; Tanin, 16 August 1324/29 August 1908; Tanin, 17 Ağustos 1324/30 August 1908

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