The Forgotten Revolutionary: İshak Sükuti and the Dawn of Ottoman Reform
- Jamal Latif
- 5 hours ago
- 9 min read
Have you ever wondered about the unsung heroes who sparked revolutions from the shadows? İshak Sükuti, a Kurdish doctor turned revolutionary, was one such figure in the crumbling Ottoman Empire. Born into poverty in 1868 and dying young at 34, he co-founded a secret society that challenged a powerful sultan and laid the groundwork for modern Turkey. In this blog post, you'll discover his life story, from his humble beginnings to his exile adventures, and how his ideas influenced the Young Turks movement. We'll explore the turbulent era he lived in, his key contributions, and why his legacy still matters today.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Education
İshak Sükuti was born in 1868 in Diyarbakır, a bustling city in the southeastern part of the Ottoman Empire. This region, now part of modern Turkey, was home to a mix of Kurds, Armenians, Turks, and others, all living under the vast Ottoman rule. His family was Kurdish and poor, which meant young İshak grew up facing hardships that many in the empire knew too well. The Ottoman Empire at the time was like a giant puzzle falling apart—wars, economic troubles, and a sultan who ruled with an iron fist made life tough for ordinary people.
Despite his family's lack of money, İshak showed a sharp mind early on. He completed his basic schooling in Diyarbakır, where he learned the basics of reading, writing, and perhaps some history of the empire. But he dreamed bigger. In his teens, he moved to Istanbul, the empire's grand capital, to pursue higher education. Istanbul was a world away from Diyarbakır—full of palaces, mosques, and schools that trained the next generation of Ottoman leaders.
İshak enrolled in the Kuleli Military Medical School, a place where young men learned medicine with a military twist. This school was tough, but it prepared students for roles in the army or hospitals. After graduating, he didn't stop there. In 1887, at age 19, he joined the Gülhane Military Medical Academy in Haydarpaşa, one of the top medical schools in the empire. Here, he studied subjects like anatomy, surgery, and diseases, all while wearing a uniform and following strict rules.
By the time he finished his studies, İshak had become a qualified doctor. He got a job at Haydarpaşa Hospital, treating soldiers and civilians. But medicine wasn't just a job for him—it opened his eyes to the empire's problems. He saw sick people who couldn't afford care, corrupt officials, and a government that ignored the needs of its people. These experiences planted the seeds of rebellion in his mind.
The late 1800s were a time of change in the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Abdul Hamid II, who ruled from 1876, had promised reforms but soon turned into a dictator. He suspended the constitution, spied on citizens, and crushed any opposition. Young intellectuals like İshak, educated in modern schools, started questioning this system. They read books from Europe about freedom, equality, and science, and wondered why the Ottoman Empire couldn't be like that.
İshak's Kurdish background added another layer to his story. Kurds were a large ethnic group in the empire, often living in mountainous areas and following their own traditions. While loyal to the sultan for centuries, many Kurds felt ignored by the central government. İshak, as a Kurd who made it to the elite schools in Istanbul, bridged two worlds—the traditional Kurdish life and the modern Ottoman one.
His education wasn't just about learning medicine; it was about awakening to politics. At school, he met other students from different backgrounds—Albanians, Circassians, Arabs—who shared his frustrations. These friendships would soon lead to secret meetings and bold plans. Little did İshak know, his path from a poor boy in Diyarbakır to a doctor in Istanbul was just the beginning of a revolutionary journey.
As İshak worked at the hospital, he began writing about his ideas. Though not famous for books, he penned articles criticizing the sultan's rule. These writings were risky—spies were everywhere—but they showed his growing anger. He believed in progress through education and science, ideas borrowed from European thinkers like Auguste Comte, who promoted positivism (a belief in facts and reason over religion or tradition).
In those days, being a doctor meant more than healing bodies; it meant healing society. Many revolutionaries were doctors or students, using their knowledge to diagnose the empire's "illnesses" like corruption and backwardness. İshak fit right in, ready to prescribe a cure: reform or revolution.
Entry into Revolutionary Politics
By the late 1880s, the Ottoman Empire was in crisis. It had lost wars to Russia and European powers, shrinking its territory and emptying its treasury. Sultan Abdul Hamid II responded by tightening control, creating a network of spies called the "Hamidian regime." Anyone suspected of disloyalty could be arrested, exiled, or worse. But this only fueled underground movements.
İshak Sükuti, now a young doctor, got pulled into this world of secret plots. At the Gülhane Academy, he met like-minded students who whispered about change. They called themselves "Young Turks," a loose group of reformers inspired by earlier "Young Ottomans" who had pushed for a constitution in 1876. But the Young Turks wanted more—they dreamed of overthrowing the sultan if needed.
İshak's entry point was through friends like Abdullah Cevdet, another Kurdish medical student, and Ibrahim Temo, an Albanian. These men shared stories of injustice: tribes oppressed in the provinces, intellectuals silenced in the cities. İshak, with his Kurdish roots, brought a unique view. He saw how ethnic groups like Kurds were used by the sultan as militias (the Hamidiye regiments) but given little in return.
In 1889, İshak and his friends formed a secret society. They met in hidden spots, discussing books smuggled from Europe. Ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity from the French Revolution excited them. İshak, quiet but passionate, argued for education as the key to reform. He believed teaching people science and rights would weaken the sultan's grip.
But talk soon turned to action. The group printed pamphlets criticizing the regime, risking their lives. İshak wrote anonymous pieces, calling for a return to the 1876 constitution. These writings spread among students and officers, building support.
The sultan's spies caught wind, leading to arrests. İshak narrowly escaped, but it hardened his resolve. He saw the empire as a sick patient needing surgery—radical change. His role grew; he became a organizer, linking cells in Istanbul with ones in the provinces.
This period shaped İshak into a revolutionary. From a doctor healing bodies, he became one fighting for the soul of the empire. His politics mixed Ottoman loyalty with calls for justice, especially for minorities like Kurds.
As tensions rose, İshak's group formalized. They adopted positivist ideas, emphasizing progress through union. This led to the birth of something bigger: the Committee of Union and Progress.
Founding the Committee of Union and Progress
In 1889, a small group of medical students changed Ottoman history. İshak Sükuti, along with Ibrahim Temo, Mehmed Reshid, and Abdullah Cevdet, founded the Ittihad-ı Osmani Cemiyeti—later known as the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP). This secret society aimed to end Abdul Hamid's absolute rule and restore constitutional government.
The founding happened at the Imperial Military School of Medicine in Istanbul. These young men, all in their 20s, were diverse: İshak Kurdish, Temo Albanian, Reshid Circassian, Cevdet Kurdish. This mix showed the empire's multi-ethnic nature, united against tyranny.
İshak played a key role as organizer and thinker. He handled archives, keeping records of members and plans. His medical training helped—he treated injured comrades and used hospital networks to spread ideas.
The CUP started small but grew fast. By 1895, it had branches in schools and the army. They adopted "union and progress" as their motto, inspired by positivism. İshak wrote articles promoting these ideas, though anonymously to avoid arrest.
But in 1896, disaster struck. The sultan uncovered a CUP plot to depose him. Hundreds were arrested; İshak and others were exiled to Tripolitania (modern Libya). This broke the early CUP, but İshak escaped and fled to Europe.
The founding of the CUP marked İshak as a pioneer. It set the stage for the 1908 Young Turk Revolution, which forced the sultan to restore the constitution. Though İshak didn't live to see it, his work was crucial.
Challenges Faced by the Early CUP
The early CUP faced huge risks. Spies infiltrated meetings, and betrayal was common. İshak and friends used codes and false names.
Funding was another issue. They relied on donations from sympathetic merchants and exiles.
Ethnic tensions added complexity. As a Kurd, İshak pushed for inclusivity, but some members leaned toward Turkish nationalism.
Despite this, the CUP's ideas spread, inspiring later leaders like Enver Pasha.
Exile and Activism Abroad
Exile didn't stop İshak Sükuti—it fueled his fire. After escaping Tripolitania in 1896, he headed to Geneva, Switzerland, a hub for Ottoman dissidents. There, he reunited with Abdullah Cevdet and continued the fight.
In Geneva, they published the Osmanlı Gazetesi (Ottoman Gazette), a newspaper smuggled back to the empire. İshak wrote anonymous articles attacking the sultan and calling for reform. He also provided money to keep it running, sometimes with help from Armenian intellectual Tigrane Zaven.
Life in exile was hard. İshak lived modestly, always watching for Ottoman agents. He moved between Geneva, Paris, and Rome to stay safe.
As CUP archivist, he collected documents on the movement's history. This work preserved the group's legacy.
In 1900, İshak accepted a job as doctor at the Ottoman embassy in Rome, perhaps to spy or negotiate. This surprised friends, but he may have seen it as a way to influence from inside.
Exile shaped İshak's views. He interacted with European radicals, refining his ideas on nationalism and reform. His writings from this time show a blend of Ottoman patriotism and Kurdish pride.
But health issues plagued him. The stress of exile likely contributed to his early death.
Collaborations in Europe
In Paris and Geneva, İshak worked with other Young Turks like Ahmed Rıza. They organized congresses, like the 1902 one, debating the empire's future.
İshak's partnership with Cevdet was key. Together, they kept the CUP alive abroad.
These years saw splits in the movement—some wanted foreign help, others not. İshak favored self-reliance.
Later Years and Legacy
İshak Sükuti's later years were marked by compromise and tragedy. In 1900, he took the embassy job in Rome, suspending active opposition. This move, like others by Young Turks, was a deal with the sultan for reforms that never came.
He moved to Sanremo, Italy, perhaps for health reasons. On February 9, 1902, he died at 34. The cause isn't clear—possibly illness from stress or exile hardships.
His death hit the CUP hard. The sultan seized his archives, a big loss. Fellow members mourned, but rival Ahmed Rıza gave a cold obituary.
İshak's legacy lives in the Young Turks' success. The 1908 revolution owed much to his early work. As a Kurdish founder, he highlights the movement's diversity.
Today, he's remembered as a pioneer of Turkish and Kurdish nationalism, though often overshadowed.
Influence on Modern Turkey
The CUP's ideas shaped the Republic of Turkey. Atatürk's reforms echo positivism İshak promoted.
In Kurdish history, he's a symbol of early activism.
His story reminds us of forgotten voices in history.
Key Events & Timeline
1868: Born in Diyarbakır into a poor Kurdish family.
1887: Enrolls in Gülhane Military Medical Academy.
1889: Co-founds Ittihad-ı Osmani Cemiyeti (CUP) with friends.
1896: Exiled to Tripolitania after CUP plot exposed; escapes to Geneva.
1897-1900: Publishes Osmanlı Gazetesi, contributes articles.
1900: Accepts doctor position at Ottoman embassy in Rome.
1902: Dies in Sanremo, Italy, on February 9.
Q&A Section
Q: What was İshak Sükuti's ethnic background and how did it influence his work? A: He was Kurdish, born into a poor family in Diyarbakır. This background made him sensitive to minority issues in the Ottoman Empire, pushing for inclusive reforms in the CUP.
Q: Why did İshak accept a job with the Ottoman embassy after being a revolutionary? A: In 1900, he took a doctor position in Rome, possibly as part of a deal for reforms or to gather intelligence. It marked a shift from active opposition.
Q: What were his main contributions to the Young Turks? A: He co-founded the CUP, served as archivist, and wrote for revolutionary newspapers like Osmanlı Gazetesi.
Q: How did İshak die? A: He passed away in 1902 at age 34 in Sanremo, Italy. The exact cause isn't documented, but exile stresses likely played a role.
Q: Is İshak Sükuti well-known today? A: Not as much as leaders like Enver Pasha, but historians recognize him as a key founder of the Young Turks movement.
Conclusion
İshak Sükuti's short life left a long shadow on Ottoman and Turkish history. From a poor Kurdish boy to a revolutionary founder, he fought for progress in a dying empire. His work in the CUP helped spark the 1908 revolution, paving the way for modern reforms. Though he died young, his ideas of union, education, and justice endure.
What are your thoughts on the Young Turks and their impact on today's Middle East? Share in the comments below—I'd love to hear!
References & Works Cited
Wikipedia: İshak Sükuti. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0shak_S%C3%BCkuti , , ,
The Young Turk Legacy and Nation Building. http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/50900/1/7.pdf.pdf , ,
Revisiting Dominant Paradigms on a Young Turk Leader. https://psi203.cankaya.edu.tr/uploads/files/Sonmez,%20Ahmed%20Riza.pdf , ,
PHILOSOPHICAL MOVEMENTS IN OTTOMAN INTELLECTUAL LIFE. https://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12616279/index.pdf , , ,
Committee of Union and Progress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_Union_and_Progress ,
A Positivist Ottoman Intellectual: Ahmet Rıza. https://substack.com/home/post/p-148923057 ,
(PDF) Genesis of The Young Turk Revolution of 1908. https://www.academia.edu/127171899/Genesis_of_The_Young_Turk_Revolution_of_1908 ,
History of the Kurds. https://kurdistanmemoryprogramme.com/history-of-the-kurds ,
Relations between Kurdish Tribes and the State. https://www.ijcv.org/index.php/ijcv/article/download/5952/5541/27538 ,
Comments