Ottoman Empire ruled with social justice, tolerance

With reference to the article entitled “Travelling with Diego” by Elfren S. Cruz published by your newspaper on 23 July 2017 we would like to make the following clarification:

The author in his article states that “… in the 19th century many Lebanese Catholics emigrated to Latin America to escape oppression of the Ottoman Empire”. This is a baseless claim and regrettably entails a misleading “history lesson” void of the truth since the Ottoman Empire, both during the peak of its power as well as its decline embraced and applied a governance style enabling the harmonious and serene coexistence of its population which comprised of various ethnic and religious backgrounds including people from Christian and Jewish faiths.

In the 16th century, when the Jews were persecuted and expelled from western Europe it was the Ottomans who gave them refuge in their territory.

Furthermore, by 19th century, Ottoman citizens with Christian and Jewish faiths were employed and promoted in the bureaucracy pyramid.

The Ottoman Empire lasted more than 600 years and the treatment of its people with tolerance and justice as well as providing protection for them was a major pillar in its long existence.

However, like many other empires, the Ottomans too experienced breakaway of lands and emigration of peoples during the decline of its power throughout the 19th century. Nevertheless, this was not because of “oppression” but mainly due to wars, foreign invasion and foreign-led nationalist insurgence movements which eventually brought about substantial socio-economic adjustments in the affected areas. – VURAL

GOKTAS, Third Secretary, Turkish Embassy