Prohibitions and penalties applied on newspapers in the Pre-Constitutional Period (1860-1876)

Press life in Ottoman State began with Takvim-i Vekayi which was the first newspaper, issued in 1831. This newspaper was published during the reign of Sultan Mahmut II, played a very important role in the formation of public opinion of the Ottoman state in the westernization process. Ten years after Takvim-i Vekayi, Ceride-i Havadis, another newspaper, became the second journal of the Ottoman state, started its publication life in 1840. With the publishing of Ahval Newspaper in 1860, issued by Agah Efendi, journalism and the press came out of the state monopoly and it became stronger with Tasviri Efkar published in 1862 and Muhbir newspaper published in 1867. The Young Generation raised by the Tanzimat opposed the administration with the newspapers it published, and this movement later renamed New Ottomans. After the articles, which have political contents and criticisms against the government policies, started to appear in the press, new legal regulations and prohibitions were introduced by the government. The press was tried to be silenced with the Press Regulation in 1864 and the Ali Decree published in 1867. While newspapers such as Muhbir Utarit and Tasviri Efkar were closed with this mentioned decree, Terakki, Basiret and Diyojen were given various penalties. But, the press could not be silenced in any way, and these journalists continued their struggle abroad. With the return of the New Ottomans to Homeland, the most powerful publishing organ of the Tanzimat, İbret, was published in 1870. And then above mentioned newspaper was subjected to various penalties throughout his publishing life, was closed in 1873 with the Hadika. Key Words: Ottoman State, Press, Censorship, Ali Decree, New Ottomans