95 years ago on 3rd March 1924, the Ottoman Caliphate was abolished by the Grand National Assembly interrupting the Islamic Khilafah. The last Caliph of Islam Abdul Majid II along with the entire Ottoman Dynasty was exiled to various parts of the world. Their assets and properties were seized. The exile lasted 30 years for their women and 50 years for the men.
During this bitter and cruel period, some of them washed dishes at hotels and some died of hunger. The Ottoman family was faced with poverty, deprivation and illnesses in addition to homesickness and the pain of injustice.
Those whose last resting place is a cemetery of the nameless were the lucky ones as the bodies of some royals were lost or thrown into the sea.
Sultan Mehmed VI went into exile earlier. Sultan Abdul Majid II and his family were deported within 24 hours. The Jewish director of the train station was the last person to show respect to the Sultan.
In 1952, Adnan Mendres (Martyr of Azaan) granted the women of the Ottoman dynasty amnesty. Subsequently a coup was staged and he was eventually hanged. In 1974, Haroon Osmanoglu, the grandson of Sultan Abdul Hamid ll, was the first male of the family that returned to Turkey. He roamed the streets in extreme pitiable circumstances for 9 months until he was issued with a passport and recognised a citizen of Turkey.
Today the family remain scattered across the globe and efforts for their return to Turkey are being made by the presidency. The recovery of their assets which has been confiscated then should be returned to them so that they may live with dignity and honour.
