Abolition of the Caliphate

Abolition of the Caliphate
"The Last Caliph", an illustration in Le Petit Journal illustré in March 1924, shortly after the abolition was carried out.
Native name Hilafetin kaldırılması
Date3 March 1924; 100 years ago (1924-03-03)
VenueGrand National Assembly of Turkey
Coordinates39°54′42″N 32°51′04″E / 39.91167°N 32.85111°E / 39.91167; 32.85111
CauseAtatürk's reforms
OutcomeDeposition of Abdülmecid II
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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's signature

The Ottoman Caliphate, the world's last widely recognized caliphate, was abolished on 3 March 1924 (27 Rajab AH 1342) by decree of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The process was one of Atatürk's reforms following the replacement of the Ottoman Empire with the Republic of Turkey.[1] Abdulmejid II was deposed as the last Ottoman caliph.

The caliph was nominally the supreme religious and political leader of all Muslims across the world.[2] In the years prior to the abolition, during the ongoing Turkish War of Independence, the uncertain future of the caliphate provoked strong reactions among the worldwide community of Sunni Muslims.[3] The potential abolition of the caliphate had been actively opposed by the Indian-based Khilafat Movement,[1] and generated heated debate throughout the Muslim world.[4] The 1924 abolition came about less than 18 months after the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate, prior to which the Ottoman sultan was ex officio caliph.

Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk) reportedly offered the caliphate to Ahmed Sharif as-Senussi, on the condition that he reside outside Turkey; Senussi declined the offer and confirmed his support for Abdulmejid.[5] At least 13 different candidates were proposed for the caliphate in subsequent years, but none was able to gain a consensus for the candidacy across the Islamic world.[6][7] Candidates included Abdulmejid II, his predecessor Mehmed VI, King Hussein of Hejaz, Sultan Yusef of Morocco, King Amanullah Khan of Afghanistan, Imam Yahya of Yemen, and King Fuad I of Egypt.[6] Unsuccessful "caliphate conferences" were held in the Dutch East Indies (today Indonesia) in 1924,[7] in 1926 in Cairo, and in 1931 in Jerusalem.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b Brown 2011, p. 260.
  2. ^ Özcan 1997, pp. 45–52.
  3. ^ Nafi 2012, p. 47.
  4. ^ Nafi 2012, p. 31.
  5. ^ Özoğlu 2011, p. 5; Özoğlu quotes 867.00/1801: Mark Lambert Bristol on 19 August 1924.
  6. ^ a b c Ardıç 2012, p. 85.
  7. ^ a b c Pankhurst 2013, p. 59.