Exile in Cyprus: the Cases of Namik Kemal and Subh-i Azal

Abstract

Cyprus has been a place of refuge and exile for centuries. Once it became part of the Ottoman Empire, the island was used as a place of banishment for intellectual, political and religious undesirables. Namik Kemal (1840-1888), the celebrated pioneer of modern Turkish literature and one of the leaders of the oppositional Young Ottomans, was exiled to Famagusta after the staging of his theatre play Vatan yahud Silistre ("Fatherland or Silistra ") was met with enthusiasm. From his exile in Cyprus Kemal posted around 200 letters. Subh-i Azal ("The Dawn of Eternity", ca. 1830-1912) was the successor of the founder of a socio-religious and messianic movement (Babism) which later developed, under Subh-i Azal's half brother Bahâ 'allâh, into the Baha'i faith. The two half brothers, after escaping from Iran attracted a following in the Ottoman Empire

they later split and caused disruptions as a result of which they were banished. Subh-i Azal was exiled to Famagusta/Magusa some five years before Kemal arrived (1868). The two exiles seem not to have established any kind of relationship. Subh-i Azal lived a secluded life in the family home which exists to this day. When Britain took over the administration of the island in 1878, they tried in vain to get the Ottomans to take back Subh-i Azal. Thus the family and their descendants remained in Famagusta, eventually merging with the mainstream Turkish Muslim community of that town. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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