Religion Faculty Work
Title
The Late Ottoman Ulema’s Constitutionalism
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Publication Title
Islamic Law and Society
Volume Number
23
Issue Number
2018-01-02
DOI
10.1163/15685195-02312p04
Abstract
By examining laws and proposals related to constitutional amendments, the Mecelle, and sharī‘a courts in the 1908–1912 Ottoman parliament, I attempt to explain how ulema in parliament tried to implement their understandings of constitutionalism and legal reform within the legislative framework of the period as set against the framework of parliamentary politics. I focus on the upper-level ulema members of the Chamber of Deputies as they worked to implement their understandings of law and constitutionalism and followed a political strategy to achieve their goals. Based on my study of the draft constitution, official parliamentary publications, and the popular press, I identify the understandings of legal reform that underpinned their proposals and how they influenced the constitutional amendment process, by contrast to the failure of their efforts to expand the Mecelle and reform the sharī‘a courts.
ISSN
0928-9380
First Page
89
Last Page
119
Recommended Citation
Gunasti, Susan, "The Late Ottoman Ulema’s Constitutionalism" (2016). Religion Faculty Work. 3.
https://digitalcommons.owu.edu/rel_pubs/3
Link Out URL
https://doi.org/10.1163/15685195-02312p04