Press freedom during the reign of Abdulhamid II

In this study, press law at the period of Abdulhamid II was investigated by taking into consideration the history of law and general public law principles. Newspapers, magazines, books, and legislations made in that period contributed the whole part of the thesis. In addition, literature review was made. The study was confessed by considering the characteristics of its period and comparisons with the present, and some results were obtained by a legal viewpoint. With the entry of press into the countries in both Europe and America, governments interfered in regarding press and freedom of the press and punishment had been envisaged up to the administration for those who published against the state. The period, which was after Tanzimat, was which national and adaptation laws were coexist in terms of Ottoman Law, and for this reason, there was a legistlation complexity. The tradition of the Ottoman State towards the freedom of the press and the press was based on the authorization system. The preliminary permission conditions for press activities became an ongoing and continuing view before the period of Abdulhamid II. The establishment and development of press organs during the period of Abdulhamid II were supported and publishing activities were permitted. As a matter of fact, the increase and diversification of publishing activities in this period were favorable developments in terms of press freedom. However, due to various reasons, restrictions had been imposed on press freedom in practice and the irregular, arbitrary and excess attitudes of the officials who controlled the publications such as newspapers, magazines and books negatively affected press freedom.