Crime and punishment procedures in Seljuk

The Seljuks, one of the most important states of the Middle Ages, tried to combine the legacy of the Turkish states that took place on the stage of history before them and the Islamic law. Thus, withi the Seljuk state, a justice mechanism in which Shari'a and Customary law was applied. As the borders of the state expanded, additions and changes were made according to the conditions of the period. The events that are considered as crimes committed by the members of the Seljuk dynasty, statesmen and commoners and what kind of punishments were given were examined. Revolt against the state, betrayal, neglect of duty, escaping from war, assassination of state administrators and disrespecting the sultan were seen as the heaviest crimes and did not go unpunished. The crimes of adultery, theft, cruelty to the public and slander, which are considered immoral in the society, were also severely punished. Stuffing, poisoning, skinning, stuffing straw, killing by burning, splitting in half, crucifixion are examples of these punishments. In our study, it was emphasized which crimes were punished and how they were applied, and the applied METOTs were explained in detail with case studies.