Exile, as a means of political punisment in the Ottoman Empire: Example of Niyâzî-i Mısrî

This country has seen many important people for years. Some of the most significant ones are Somuncu Baba, Hulusi Efendi, Sadreddin Konevi and Niyâzî-i Mısrî. They affected the cultural and political life dramatically. Being an Islamic Mutasawwuf Mehmet Niyâzî-i Mısrî from Malatya not only had a deep impression during his time but also has one today. He revealed bravely all the mistakes of the political power, became against systematically to the rulers so as to make the country to be ruled well during the stagnation period of the Empire in the 17th century. He was not only a man of action but also a brilliant example of civilian disobedience. Divan-I İlahiyat, written by Niyâzî-i Mısrî, is one of the pieces which has been read, known, liked and published most. More than ten volumes poetical and prosaically pieces were written in Turkish and Arabic by him. Apart from his poetic feature Mısrî was a thinker who believed that his duty was to change the society, the state and the policy. He was a unique and a modal person who never hesitated to say the truth. His thoughts were not usual and as a result he paid for this by being exiled to Rhodes and Limnos. For this reason supporting Niyâzî-i Mısrî means supporting cultural heritage being powerful against injustice, being patriotic and owning values of Malatya. Niyâzî-i Mısrî criticized some of the significant authorities such as Grand Vizier, Treasurer for their failure and misuses. He offered suggestions for the problems of the state. He exclaimed on his own that since 17th century the Ottoman Empire had been stained to the depression because of the untalented administration class. He was so modernized and changeable person that he could tell that the Ottoman Dynasty had to hand over the ruling to the Crimean Dynasty. A thought and heart cooperation was provided between the Lodge and the Madrasa in the early and rise period of the Ottoman Empire. In the 17th century a dispute emerged between the Lodge and the Madrasa and at the end the losing part was the Lodge. Mehmet Niyâzî-i Mısrî struggled much to avoid this conflict and being a modal he wrote very important pieces. Mısri did not obey the Imperial Orders of Sultan which he considered them as illegal for the sake of his aim. He was oppositional but he always had ideal manner. He was so brave that he wrote a letter to the Sultan who did not allow him to join the expedition to Transylvania. His enemies exposed him an exile life lasting 18 years. He was a miserable poor who was watched, despised and poisoned during his exile. Key Words: Democracy, Politics, Exile, Monarchy, Violence, Criminal.