Exile policy and practices in the period of Abdulhamid II

The purpose of this study is whether there is any particular and systematic exile policy in II. Abdulhamid era by examining the practices. The main source of the findings is Ottoman state archive. In the opening chapter, the concept of exile and its implementations on the different civilizations are explained. Afterwards, its status in the Islamic law and implementations on the other old Turkic states are explained. Its performing form of in the Tanzimat Era is described subsequent to Classic Era implementations. In the chapter one, the exile practices in the first years of II. Abdulhamid reign, while he was not able to fully establish his rule, were examined. It has been revealed how II. Abdulhamid used the exile as a method in liquidating the power centers, which he saw as the front obstacle to establishing his absolute establishment. In the second chapter, it has been revealed how II. Abdulhamid used the exile as a preventive measure in liquidating the potential and active threats against his reign when he finally established his absolute rule. In the third chapter, the implementations were analyzed. Then it has been revealed on which social stratum was subjected to the exile on what reasons and how. It has seen that II. Abdulhamid oftenly implemented exile practices against internal threats throughout his reign. As in the classical period of the Ottoman Empire, the implemantation can be used as a criminal sanction against common crimes, banditry, riots and as a security measure to ensure security and order in the society; in this period it was used as a political tool in order to keep the opposition groups and public opinion under control. While he was using the exile as a tool throughout his reing, did not rely on just tradation but also keep up to date European examples. However, it has seen that his exile policy was only enough to save the day, but did not serve him well in the long term.