Sarıyerli Sadık Efendi Incident In The Tanzimat Period

In this study, anti westernization actions and thoughts of an Ottoman scholar who lived during the Tanzimat period have been investigated. In 1869 Sarıyerli Sadık Efendi was sent into exile without court due to criticising actions of the government of period in the mosque where he preached and on the suspicion of being member of the Young Ottomans. Ottoman opposition press of the period and the French newspapers evaluated the event from their own political fronts and supported Sadık Efendi. Sadık Efendi who had a large loyal fan was questioned by Zaptiye Nazırı of the period. And subsequently he was arrested and exiled to Acre with his fans. Since he was punished without court we don’t have any information about the evidences which caused to his exile. Hürriyet, the publishing organ of the Young Ottomans argued that Sadık Efendi incident was the conspiracy of Sheikhulislam Hayrullah Efendi and regarded it as the prevention of freedom of thought. French newspapers regarded this as a sign of a people's revolution in the Ottoman Empire. Our informations are not sufficent to reveal an organizational tie of Sadık Efendi with Young Ottomans. However, It can be said that he was interested in the ideas of Young Ottomans as sympathiser. In his book titled Tanzîr-i Telemak Sadık Efendi defended the ideas that religion and the clergy is the guardian of civilization and western civilization which is devoid of religious foundations will collapse. Otoman Empire will collapse as long as she imitates it.

Keywords

Sadık Efendi, Ulemâ, Tanzimat, Westernization, Tanzir-i Telemak, Young Ottomans