Life, activities and social network of the Arab journalist Selim Faris (1826-1908)

This thesis deals with the Arab journalist Selim Faris (1826-1908) who was active in Istanbul, Cairo and Europe during the reign of Abdülhamid II. Faris' newspapers, intellectual activities and social environment show that he was in the second half of the nineteenth century an intellectual of multiple identities. He first took over his father Ahmed Faris' newspaper el-Cevâib in Istanbul during the 1870s. After the closure of the newspaper by the government he went to Cairo (1885-1887) where his oppositional character started to emerge. Later, in London, he continued his opposition against Sultan Abdulhamid's reign. His newspaper, Hürriyet (1894-7), was the pioneer of dissident publications in London. Faris and his social circle in London is regarded now as one of the first Ottoman oppositional groups in Europe. This study aims to describe Selim Faris' activities within his social and intellectual network. Although current literature dwells on Faris' pro-constitutionalist opposition to Sultan Abdulhamid II. administration in London during 1890s, this study shows that he was involved in some oppositional publications and circles before these dates.