TNT History Mini-Series: Bekir Ağa Prison - Turks in Turkish Hands/Part I

//Ed. note:  In 2019, TNT presented voluminous reporting 

about Turks held by the Russians and Greeks during WWI 

and the War of Independence (see sample links below).  

Herewith, TNT begins the presentation of a first-hand 

account of a prisoner in a notorious Istanbul jail known as 

'Bekir Ağa Block', named after its initial ruthless warden, 

and officially designated 'Istanbul Muhafızlığı Dairesi' 

(Istanbul Office of Incarceration).  

Bekir Ağa Prison was used by Sultan Abdülhamid II, the 

Young Turks (CUP) and even the occupying British forces 

in Istanbul to detain and ruthlessly 'discipline' opposition 

elements.

This TNT mini-series, transcribed/translated from the

original Ottoman, will appear every other day for the 

next month or so.  The account was written by Süleyman

Sırrı at a time when the fortunes of the Turkish nation

were at a low point, following WWI, at the start of

British occupation of Istanbul, and the nascent struggle 

against the invading Greeks.//

Turkish POWs in Russia

One Turkish POW's story in Russia

Turkish POWs in Greece

What I Saw in Bekir Ağa Prison

"Threats, chains, dungeons, fortifications

Don't think of these as precautions, rather, as capital for terror

The right to free thought springs from determination to seek freedom

But the oppressors leave the nation crushed"

Abdullah Cevdet

Author: Süleyman Sırrı, former education official

Printer: Hukuk Print Shop, Istanbul 1919

Foreward

In the aftermath the 'Mütareke' (Ottoman surrender in WW I, 30 

October 1918),  one sees a great and important link between Bekir Ağa

Prison, which İttihad ve Terakki (Committee of Union and Progress/

CUP)  officials used during their reign, and the fate of the nation. 

This jail of terror and catastrophe housed many innocent and sinless

citizens within its damp walls from which no sound could escape,as the 

nation was dragged down towards annihilation.  Many youths who came

here before entering the field of politics faced death many times but

many ultimately survived. 

This jail of terror and misfortune was saturated with tragedy and 

sorrow.  The pain of the grave is heavy-handed and forever.  But here, 

one would die many times only to endure the soul-melting sorrow of

an unjust life once again. 

This work contains certain tragedies of this historic building, where I

witnessed torture and murder.  In this regard, I can serve as a living

witness to the cruel legacy of those who have brought Turkey to ruin.

So I am dedicating this history to my successors.

This book about the 'Secret Society' opposing the

CUP, was written by Rıza Nur, who was together

with Süleyman Sırrı at Bekir Ağa Prison.

  

The Founding of the "Cemiyet-i Hafiye" (Secret Society)

We were living in Kadıköy.  At the direction of my father-in-law, I was

conversing with an individual named Kemal Bey, who was a customs

officials.  This man was in discourse with my father-in-law very often

but most of their conversations were secretive.   

I became very interested in finding out what these secretive chats were

all about.  Winter was approaching.  We moved to a house in Haseki.

Again, Kemal Bey began to come frequently and this served to increase

my heightened curiosity.  One night there was quite a bit of drinking 

and carousing going on.  While my father-in-law was elsewhere, I took

the opportunity to ask Kemal Bey what he had been talking with him

about.  

Kemal Bey said that a secret society was being established in this 

house and that, after hearing my convictions and intentions, he 

promised to tell me what the society's aims and purposes were.  So I

told him my thoughts about being opposed to the CUP because I saw

with great conviction and certainty that they would ultimately lead the 

nation to its downfall. 

Hasan Fehmi Bey, editor of 'Serbesti' newspaper

and a fierce opponent of the CUP.  He was 

assassinated on 6 April 1909.

My opposition to the CUP was based on the following: at the start

of the 'Meşrtiyet' (Constitutional Period, 1908), we set up a print shop,

where opposition ideas were printed.  In this regard, each evening I 

would listen to the thoughts of Hasan Fehmi Bey, who passionately

related European lifestyles and told us who were the real heroes of 

freedom.

At the time, after many incidents and poor treatment of members of 

self-sacrificing society members and, in particular, because of the 

terror, threats and executions following the 31 March incident (violent

repression of anti-CUP elements in 1909), I considered it a matter of

conscience to oppose the CUP.

The '31 March Incident' (according to today's calender, 13-24

April 1909) when CUP forces put down a rebellion and 

dethroned Sultan Abdülhamid II. 

//END of PART I//