Muslim and Non-Muslim Relations in the Ottoman Cyprus (17th and 18th century)

Year 2018, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 149 - 175, 31.12.2018

Ümit Güler

https://doi.org/10.20486/imad.450009

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Abstract

The island of
Cyprus, which has hosted many civilizations throughout history, has existed
with the different ethnic and religious elements it hosts. During the Ottoman
sovereignty between 1571 and 1878, Muslims and non-Muslims, who formed the
majority in the island, lived together for nearly 300 years. They contacted
with each other in many different areas, especially in trade, in the natural
course of daily life. In the Ottoman period, although the non-Muslims have
certain legal autonomy, the shar'i courts became the only place of application
for the settlement of legal issues between Muslims and Non-Muslims. The qadi
records of these courts were kept with care during the Ottoman period, and
today they constitute the richest and most reliable sources of Muslim and non-Muslim
relations that have taken place in the history. From this point of view, in the
study, the Muslim-non-Muslim relations, which were reflected in the 17^th
and 18^th-century Cyprus qadi records, were examined under the legal
framework regarding the individuals, families, heritage, goods, and debts. Yet,
the vast majority of the relationships that have occurred between the two
societies had been in these areas. In the research, it has been revealed that
the Muslim and non-Muslim relations in Ottoman Cyprus are generally more
intense than the relations in Anatolia for the same period. In addition, it was
also observed that the relations between the two societies were considerably
strong and positive.

Summary

Cyprus which
lost its social peace and serenity since having left the administration of
Ottoman is still a region in ceasefire, where a permanent peace could not be
established between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. Therefore, putting
forward the relations of Muslims and non-Muslims from Cyprus during Ottoman
Period will provide an insight on what are necessary to live in peace through
their historical experience, also it will contribute to eliminate the
accusation and slander against Ottoman and Muslim or non-Muslim people of the
island.

The island of
Cyprus, which has hosted many civilizations throughout history, has existed
with the different ethnic and religious elements it hosts. During the Ottoman
sovereignty between 1571 and 1878, Muslims and non-Muslims, who formed the
majority in the island, lived together for nearly 300 years. They contacted
with each other in many different areas, especially in trade, in the natural
course of daily life. In the Ottoman period, although the non-Muslims have
certain legal autonomy, the sharia courts became the only place of application
for the settlement of legal issues between Muslims and non-Muslims. The qadi
records of these courts were kept with care during the Ottoman period, and
today they constitute the richest and most reliable sources of Muslim and
non-Muslim relations that have taken place in the history. From this point of
view, in the study, the Muslim-non-Muslim relations, which were reflected in
the 17^th and 18^th century Cyprus qadi records, were
examined under the legal framework regarding the individuals, families,
heritage, goods, and debts. Yet, the vast majority of the relationships that have
occurred between the two societies had been in these areas. In the research, it
has been revealed that the Muslim and non-Muslim relations in Ottoman Cyprus
are generally more intense than the relations in Anatolia for the same period.
In addition, it was also observed that the relations between the two societies
were considerably strong and positive.

Primary sources
of this study focusing on the relation between the Muslim and non-Muslim in
Ottoman during 17th and 18th century are the records of sharia judge of Cyprus
in that period. The mentioned records of sharia judge are 22 volumes and they
are composed of all of the current records of sharia judge of Cyprus.
Historical experience of the locals and the political, social and
administrative structure of the island in the said period were addressed
briefly for a better understanding of relations between Muslim and non-Muslim
in Cyprus during Ottoman period.

One of the key
findings of this study is that relations between the Muslim and the non-Muslim
in Cyprus of Ottoman have a rather strong and positive character. We believe
that island's having hosted to various cultures and civilizations throughout
history along with its cosmopolitan social structure have affected the
emergence of this aspect in the relations between both communities. Therefore,
firstly the essentials of the general history of Cyprus, then its political,
social and administrative situation during 17th and 18th were addressed after
the introduction, finally information on the population structure of Muslim and
non-Muslims were given. Firstly, the relations regarding the laws of persons,
family and inheritance, then the relations of laws of property and obligations
were focused on while examining the relations between Muslim and non-Muslim.
Legal classification of the relations was considered to be more appropriate as
the database of the study is composed of records of sharia judges which are the
court records of that period.

Among all the
documents regarding the legal relationships, the number of court records whose
parties are Muslims and non-Muslims is 979 and its rate corresponds to 12%.
This rate shows that relation between Muslim and non-Muslim in the Cyprus is
more intense in proportion to the general situation in Anatolia. Therefore,
examined documents reveal the existence of several relations in the social and
commercial matters.

It was seen that
the non-Muslims know their rights in the disputes occurred between the Muslims
and the non-Muslims, that they can claim their rights by easily applying to the
court when needed. Plaintiff or defendant's being non-Muslim did not affect the
stance of the sharia judge and also no arbitrary decisions in any case was
detected. Judge decides on which party is right according to the evidence whether
they are Muslim or non-Muslim. Besides, the non-Muslim's being able to make
people who are claimed to be unfair to them summoned before the court and
several cases which are won by non-Muslims against Muslims confirm this
situation clearly. The fact that plaintiff or defendant is a Muslim civil
servant did not cause any difference in implementation and no document
indicating that local governments interfere with the spiritual court was
observed.

Another matter
emerged from the study is that not only issues among Muslims or between Muslims
and non-Muslims but also issues whose parties are non-Muslims were applied to
the spiritual court frequently. Therefore, it can be stated that spiritual
court or sharia judges play a central role in the lives of Muslims and
non-Muslims in the Ottoman Cyprus. The fact that spiritual courts were careful
to secure the justice without discriminating between Muslims or non-Muslims
probably played an important role in providing confidence for non-Muslims in
time. Non-Muslim's rate of recourse to the court in the said period was rather
high with the effect of non-Muslim rayah's confidence occurred in time. The
prominent issue in here is the general rise in the non-Muslim's rate of
recourse to the court in time after the conquest of the island. Therefore, it
is possible to say that the trust to the court was established in terms of the
non-Muslims in Cyprus of Ottoman period.

Keywords

Cyprus, Muslim-non-Muslim Relations, Ottoman Cyprus, Ottoman Law, non-Muslims

OSMANLI KIBRISI’NDA MÜSLİM-GAYRİMÜSLİM İLİŞKİLERİ (17. ve 18. YY.)

Abstract

Tarih boyunca birçok medeniyete ev sahipliği yapmış
olan Kıbrıs adası, içinde barındırdığı farklı etnik ve dinî unsurlarla var
olagelmiştir. 1571 ve 1878 yılları arasında Osmanlı hâkimiyetindeki Müslümanlar
ve adada çoğunluğu oluşturan gayrimüslimler, 300 yılı aşkın bir süre beraber
yaşamış; ticaret başta olmak üzere hayatın tabii seyri içerisinde birçok farklı
sahada birbirleriyle temas halinde olmuşlardır. Osmanlı döneminde her ne kadar gayrimüslimler
belli oranda hukukî özerkliğe sahip olsa da, Müslümanlar ve gayrimüslimler
arasında meydana gelen hukukî meseleleri çözüme bağlamada şerʻî mahkemeler
yegâne müracaat mercii olmuştur. Bu mahkemelerde tutulan kadı sicilleri,
Osmanlı döneminde itinayla muhafaza edilmiş olup bugün tarih içerisinde meydana
gelen Müslim-gayrimüslim ilişkilerinin gözlemlenebileceği en zengin ve
güvenilir kaynakları oluşturmaktadır. Konunun zikredilen bu öneminden hareketle
17. ve 18. yüzyıl Kıbrıs kadı sicillerine yansıyan Müslim-gayrimüslim
ilişkileri şahıs, aile, miras, eşya ve borçlar hukuku çerçevesinde incelemeye
tabi tutulmuştur. Zira her iki ahali arasında meydana gelen ilişkilerin kahir
ekseriyeti bu alanlarda meydana gelmiştir. Araştırmada Osmanlı Kıbrısı’ndaki Müslim-gayrimüslim
ilişkilerinin aynı dönemde Anadolu’daki ilişkilerden genel olarak daha yoğun
olduğu ortaya çıkmakla beraber her iki ahali arasındaki münasebetlerin oldukça
kuvvetli ve pozitif nitelikte olduğu da gözlenmiştir.

Keywords

Kıbrıs, Müslim-Gayrimüslim İlişkileri, Osmanlı Kıbrısı, Osmanlı Hukuku, Gayrimüslimler

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