An Open Letter to Joshua M. Landis

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2 responses to “An Open Letter to Joshua M. Landis”

1. 

   Yusuf Ilker Karaaslan

   April 7, 2013

   Joshua M. Landis wrote in reply to Yusuf Ilker Karaaslan and cc’ed addresses the following;

   From: [email protected]
   To: [email protected]
   CC: ….

   Subject: RE: WHO is that 3.000.000 Christians ESCAPED TURKEY???
   Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2013 22:11:55 +0000

   Dear Yusuf Ilker Karaaslan,

   I am sorry I upset you. Perhaps I should have re-phrased my comparison. Anatolia was 18% Christian before 1914 and less than 1% by 1922. As you say, both the Armenians and Orthodox were accused of treason for helping either the Russian or Greek invasions. The Alawites are equally accused of treason and killing fellow Syrians in much greater numbers than did the Christians of Anatolia. By any measure, the Alawites are comparatively worse than the Christians of Anatolia. I hope that the Syrians will be as orderly with their minorities as were the Ottoman Turks or Turkish Turks in evacuating their Christians. Many fled to Syria – both Armenians and Orthodox Christians.

   As for being anti-Turkish, I beg to correct you. I am a great fan of Turkey and Turks. I do not blame them, rather I am a great admirer of the way Ataturk expelled the colonialists and built such a successful, dynamic, and prosperous country. The United States passed through a similar phase in its history. The European immigrants to the Americas killed many of their native Americans or corralled them into reservations. Not to mention the evils of slavery. 750,000 American died during the Civil War. I am certainly not anti-American, although I regret the treatment of both Indian Americans and African Americans. I can understand both within their historical context, as I do Turkey’s years of turmoil and tragedy at the end of empire.

   I have also argued that Turkey under Erdogan would have had a much more difficult time with its transition to democracy over the last decade if there had been an 18% voting block of Christians. They would have, in all likelihood, voted for the Kemalists and military guardianship. This has been the case in Syria, where the 20% religious minorities have refused to share power with the Muslim Brotherhood or Islamic parties. Their distrust of Islam and Muslims has been the source of military dictatorship and brought about Syria’s collapse into civil war. I believe they will pay a very high price for this. That is the point I was trying to make on al-Jazeera and I think the comparison with Anatolia is a good one and a warning to Lebanon, the country to which most Syrian minorities will likely flee.

   The question I was asked on Al-Jazeera was, “What will happen when Assad falls.” I could have used the comparison with Israel-Palestine, where Palestinians were forced to flee or pushed out of Palestine by the victorious Jews in 1948, severely destabilizing the region for decades. Had I more time, I would have also mentioned this comparison, as a warning of what can go wrong when one ethnic group expels another, whether justly or unjustly, depending on one’s point of view.

   I hope you will give me permission to post this exchange to my blog, Syria Comment. I believe it is an important debate and will help people think about aspects of the Syrian tragedy — and perhaps solutions — in new ways. Turkey is an example for the Arab countries in many ways.

   Best, Joshua Landis

   Director, Center for Middle East Studies

   729 Elm Ave., Hester Hall 116

   Norman, OK 73019
   Cell 405-819-7955
   http://Syriacomment.com
2. 

   Yusuf Ilker Karaaslan

   April 7, 2013

   Yusuf Ilker Karaaslan wrote a second letter to Joshua M. Landis in answer to his protest letter as follows;

   Dear Mr. Joshua M. Landis;

   Your first e-mail you have sent in reply to me was surprisingly 5 sentences only and I should say that it was neither satisfying nor written in a responsible manner. Seams you did not feel to give a proper reply till you saw that I have sent Cc’s to some grassroots and several diplomatic channels as well as media members. It happens, sometimes we cannot think of a small spark can erupt a big fire. And sometimes our ignorance would cost us a lot. I am glad that you have changed your mind in giving a proper reply after a half hour gap between your two e-mails.

   However your second e-mail is what I was expecting to receive at first place. Thank you for replying.

   However; you still did not answer my question for who were that 3.000.000 Christians “ESCAPING” Turkey after 1st WW. It is true that we have lost over several millions of Ottoman lives during the last century of Ottoman Empire era, including Muslims, Christians, Jews… men and women, either while defending the empire against outsider assaults or in nationalistic separation campaigns against the empire.

   There has been great numbers of migration at last century of Ottomans, especially during and after 1st WW, but these exodus and return migrations were not result of escape, as far as I have explained on my first e-mail to you, in case of Armenians that was a re-location by law decree by the government so people were not fleeing, and same applies to Greeks in exchange of Balkan Turks. So who were those 3.000.000 Christians escaping from Turkey still bears a question mark.

   The first population census in Ottomans was conducted in 1831 in most populated areas of Rumeli (European lands of empire) and Anadolu (Anatolia) and these areas were;

   In Rumeli; Çatalca, Tekfurdağı,İnecik, Malkara, Gelibolu, Şarköy, Bergos, Çorlu, Ereğli, Baba-i Atik, Havsa, Hayrabolu, Evreşe, Keşan, İnez, Cisr-i Ergene, Enez, Edirne, Çirmen, Çırpan, Ahiçelebi, Akçakızanlık, Zağra-i Atik, Dimetoka, Ferecik, Meğri, Gümülcine, Yenice-i Karasu, Uzuncaâbad, Hasköy, Sultanyeri, Drama, Sarışaban, Tırnova, Filibe, Tatarbazarcık, Ahtıman, Sofya, Şehirköy, Pravişte, Kavala, Berkofça, Cumapazarı, Sarıgöl, Eğribucak, Serfice, Tikveş, Petriç, Radovişte, Nevrekop, Menlik, Demirhisar, Zihne, Siroz, Selanik, Yenice-i Vardar, Vodine, Ağustos, Karaferye, Preznik, İznebol, Usturumca, Toyran, Karadağ, Avrathisarı, Radomir,İvrace, Köstendil, İvranya, Palanga, Eğridere, Vidin, Köprülü, Pirlepe, Samakov, Behişte, Kesriye, Persepe, Manastır, Filorina, İstrova, Horpeşte, Nasliç, İştip, Koçana, Komanova, Niğbolu, Servi, İzladi, Atrepoli, Lofça, Plevne, Rahova, Çire, Ziştovi, Rusçuk, Yanbolu, Zağra-i Cedîd, Kızılağaç, Niş,Prezrin, Sahrika, Tırgovişte, Üsküp, Kalkandelen, Kırçova, Silistre, Varna,İshakcı, Minkalye, Balçık, Saçin, Köstence, Hırsova, Tolcı, Babadağı, Edirne, Üsküdar, Manastır, Çöke, Ada, Tirfilli.
   In Anatolia; Hüdavendigar, Karesi, Kocaeli, Eskişehir, Karaman, İçil, Alâiye, Menteşe, Teke, Hamid, Aydın, Saruhan, Bolu, Viranşehir, Ankara, Çankırı, Amasya, Sivas, Bozok, Çorum, Biga, Akdeniz adaları (Cezâir-i Bahr-i Sefîd), Kütahya, Adana, Bilan, Tarsus, Trabzon, Canik, Çıldır, Kars, Kastamonu, Silistre and partially in Kibris.

   As you would see waste of areas were not covered. Besides due there were no previous organization, and experience, and due to continuous wars and migrations, these results were not reliable and actually the census continued till 1834 which still several parts of the empire was not counted. On the other hand the intention to this census was to identify the number of eligible men to take to military service, therefore the women were not counted and accordingly there were 2.500.000 men in Anatolia and 1.500.000 men in Rumeli for a total of 4.000.000 men of all ages and sects.

   A second census was conducted in 1844 in Rumeli and Anatolia where women were counted as well but the census area was limited.

   A third census was conducted in general in 1852 in Rumeli only.

   A fourth census was conducted in general in 1856 in Anatolia & Syria.

   A fifth census attempt in 1870 was unsuccessful and cancelled.

   Another attempt in 1877 failed because of continuous migrations due Ottoman-Russian war.

   Another general census in 1881-1882

   According to the Results of 1881 & 1882 Censuses: out of total 17.388.604 people in counted areas 5.893.064 men and 6.694.073 women for a total of 12.587.137 were Muslims and rest were non Muslim (Jews, Christians of Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Chaldeans, Jacobins, Maroni’s, Assyrians, etc. as well as Gypsies, Yazd’s, Druze’s etc. contributed to a total number of non Muslims in the Empire 4.801.467 people.
   Note; above figures of total 17.388.604 1881/1882 census does not include;

   Predicted number of 3.100.000 people in areas where census was not possible to be completed

   Predicted number of 7.300.000 people that did not take part in census in conduct areas

   Counted number of 11.306.091 people in autonomous areas and cities

   Counted number of 14.979 Ottoman nationals living abroad

   Considering above and adding to the results of census we can tell that the approximate Ottoman population was 39.109.674 by the year 1882.

   This number was dropped to 28.400.000 people in 1884 census due wars and lands lost from empire.

   Another general census in 1895 was unsuccessful

   Another general census in 1906 was unsuccessful due wars

   Last general census was conducted in 1914 of Ottoman Empire.

   According to the Results of 1906 & 1914 Censuses: in 1906 out of total 20.884.630 people in counted areas 8.279.736 men and 7.229.017 women for a total of 15.508.753 were Muslims and rest were non Muslim (Jews, Christians of Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Chaldeans, Jacobins, Maroni’s, Assyrians, etc. as well as Gypsies, Yazd’s, Druze’s etc. And in 1914 the number was dropped to a total of 18.520.816 people in counted areas which 15.044.846 were both men and women Muslims indicating to a missing number of a half million of Muslim population in 8 years (one should talk numbers for both sides… So out of 5.375.877 non Muslims in 1906, a drop recorded to 3.475.970 in 1914, however due most of these non Muslims remained under newly established Balkan countries that were separated from the empire and therefore were not included in the count, (Armenians subject to compulsory migration within the borders of empire were included in the count) we can say that the non Muslim population did not go missing like the Muslims’.
   For more information on these censuses you might like to read the book of Kemal H. Karpat named “Osmali Nufusu (1830-1914) Demografik ve Sosyal ozellikleri” in English “The population of Ottomans (1830-1914) Demographic and Social Aspects”.

   After all the first census that was conducted after Ottoman in the Republic of Turkey (that was established on Anatolia in Asia and a small part on Rumeli in Balkans which does not even contribute to 20% of what the area Ottoman Empire covered at its collapse) in 1927 indicated that the population in Turkey as 13.648.000 people. This was the first western meaning of population census that was conducted in the land at concern.
   NOW;

   Let me ask you these;

   1- Since the Ottoman government itself did not have a complete and proper population census, therefore they themselves did not know how many of what people they had in terms of population, where did you get your very precise and reliable figures from, and how these figure came up, is there a census that was done out of control of Ottomans that we do not have a record of?

   2- Since you indicate the population drop on the Christian population during & after Ottoman era, how do you explain Muslim population of 15.044.846 in 1914 dropped to 13.648.000 in 1927 and where are the missing at least 1.346.896 people? (since figures recorded during Ottoman era not accurate, we cannot be sure of the missing number)

   3- I am glad that before I have mentioned you as an enthusiastic American brought up your own cases such as awful disappearance of American Indians’ and few of their remained tribes of today limited to the reservoirs; you also mentioned the ill-treatment of the black community in US. Let me remind you one more such case; American treatment of Japanese dissidents in US during 2nd WW. You also have somehow bravely mentioned those 14.000.000 Muslim & Christian Palestinian refugees who were not permitted to go back their lands by Israel today.
   But Sir; these are all based on documents, discussion, evidences, proves, true historic facts, however we need some similar evidence on escaping 3.000.000 Christians from Turkey to be able to say such a thing. So I feel this is what happened during your speach;

   a. Using Turkey as reference was a mistake as the lands were called Anatolia, Rumeli, Arabia etc. till after 1st WW governed by Ottomans, and the country was called Ottoman Empire not Turkey.

   b. There were no escaping Christian, you used wrong terminology while referring to some unfortunate events and agreed conducts of migrations occurred in Ottoman land at the beginning of 20th century, and such agreed migrations continued during the Turkish Republic era according to international agreements.

   c. You were delivering your personal opinion and feelings and that are not based on historic facts.

   Regards,

   PS.: You may use dialogs on our e-mail exchanges as you wish.

   Yusuf Ilker Karaaslan.

   Doha-Qatar