2/24/2016 [Photo Story] Fahreddin Paşa’s Medina

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[Photo Story] Fahreddin Paşa’sMedina

1917: Hecin Brigades composed of Arab volunteers under the command of Ahmed Bey in Medina. While it is true that mostArabs joined the rebellion during World War I, some Arab tribes remained loyal to the Ottoman state to the end. The photodepicts the Hecin Brigades during a march in Medina. (Photo: Fahrettin Türkkan)

August 11, 2013, Sunday/ 00:00:00

There is no mention of photography in the books, articles or academic works on FahreddinPaşa (Türkkan), who is known as the “Defender of Medina” for his heroic defense of the cityduring World War I.

It must have been 20 years ago when I visited Fahreddin Paşa's two sons, Selim and OrhanTürkkan, who were also military servicemen, to find some firsthand information. I wasamazed at the volume of photos in their family album, but I was more surprised when Iheard that these photos were taken by the paşa himself. I thought he should be recognizedas one of the masters of Turkish photography and his works introduced to the generalpublic.

Born in Rusçuk on Feb. 4, 1868, he was named Ömer Fahreddin by Midhat Paşa, thegovernor of Danube province. At primary school he studied mathematics and French withFrench engineers who worked with his father, Mehmed Nahid Bey. At the same time, healso studied photography with these engineers.

Ömer Fahreddin was 9 years old when they moved from Rusçuk to İstanbul following theRusso­Turkish war. He started his military training at the war academy at age 17, and thiswas also the year he acquired his first camera. At that time he focused his camera on thestreets of İstanbul, while also having private classes with Bogos Tarkulyan, the owner ofFebüs Photo in Pera, in an effort to excel at photography.

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After graduating from the war academy, he worked in Erzincan, İstanbul, Tekirdağ, Edirneand Mosul. He took his camera with him wherever he went. In 1914, at the beginning ofWorld War I, he was appointed as commander of the 12th army division in Mosul. Shortlyafter this appointment, he was sent to Aleppo as brigadier general and deputy commanderof the fourth army division. On May 23, 1916, he moved to Medina with a group ofhandpicked military officers to address the situation in the Hejaz. Within a few days ofmoving to the city, he took control of its administration in response to attacks on militaryoutposts by Ali and Faisal, the sons of the emir of Mecca, Sherif Hussein. He was thenappointed as commander of the Hejaz's forces.

During the defense of Medina, lasting more than two years, he struggled with terribleconditions. To maintain morale, he produced a newspaper and organized patriotic contests.“Mehmetçik,” an affectionate term for a Turkish soldier, was coined by him in these years.Using this word in a letter to the Ministry of Defense, he was cautioned about his language.On May 14, 1917, as the aid they were expecting did not arrive and the defense could notbe sustained, he took the holy relics of Medina to İstanbul under the supervision of theSheikh al­Haram, Ziver Bey, by a special train. Most of the relics are still on display atTopkapı Palace today.

The war ended with the defeat of Germany and the Ottoman state on all fronts, and on Oct.30, 1918, a cease­fire was signed. Under the terms of the cease­fire, the surrender of theHejaz was required, but despite insistences by the British and the government in İstanbul,Fahreddin Paşa refused to submit. After intensive talks lasting two months, some of themilitary officers under his command made him surrender on Jan. 13, 1919. On Jan. 28,1919, he was placed under arrest and taken to the Qasr el­Nil headquarters in Cairo. Hewas then labeled a war criminal and moved to Malta. The Nemrut Mustafa Paşa MilitaryCourt in İstanbul also sentenced him to death for resisting the sultan's orders. His time ofexile in Malta ended on April 30, 1921, after which he traveled through Rome, Berlin,Moscow and Batumi before entering Anatolia.

He met Mustafa Kemal Paşa during the Battle of Sakarya, where he pledged his support forthe national War of Independence. On Oct. 27, 1921, he was appointed ambassador toKabul by the national government. Because he was unable to travel to İstanbul, he movedto Afghanistan after a short stay with his family in Sivas. During his service in Afghanistan,he gathered material and moral support for the War of Independence.

After his four years of service as ambassador to Kabul, he returned to İstanbul, where hebriefly served on the Military Court of Appeals; in 1936, he requested his retirement. OnNov. 22, 1948, he died of a heart attack while traveling to Ankara. He was buried in theAşiyan Asri Cemetery according to his will.

Over 63 years, from the first time he used a camera until his death, Fahreddin Paşa built anenormous photo archive. It is interesting to note that he took photos of every place hevisited. Many of his works were donated by his children to the Research Center for IslamicHistory, Art and Culture (IRCICA).

By taking photos of the places he saw, Fahreddin Paşa recorded visual history. FahreddinPaşa took photos of important cities such as Çanakkale, Kars, Medina, Herat, Malta andKabul, and it is a great shame that these photos have not received the recognition theydeserve. This is a loss for our political and military history as well as the history of art.

BÜLENT KENEŞ

CAFER SOLGUN

ABDÜLKADİR CİVAN

AMANDA PAUL

JOOST LAGENDIJK

DOĞU ERGİL

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2/24/2016 [Photo Story] Fahreddin Paşa’s Medina

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A general view of the city of Medina during the defense. Tophane Tower and Masjid al­Nabawi are seen in the background.

New Mecca Emir Sharif Ali Haydar Paşa and Fahreddin Paşa on their way to the ground­breaking ceremony of the Medina Telegram Station.

Fahreddin Paşa offers water to soldiers at the opening ceremony of a newly discoveredfountain.

An aerial view of Medina in 1918. Like many other Islamic cities, Medina was surrounded bywalls.

CHARLOTTE MCPHERSON

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