Ottoman Empire | Al Majalla

The last Caliph Abdelmejid II in Nice, France, during his exile.

This day in history: Turkey abolishes the Caliphate

On this day 100 years ago, President Kemal Ataturk abolished the Muslim Caliphate in Turkey 14 months after doing away with the title of sultan

Sami Moubayed 03, Mar 2024

The treaty which gave rise to modern Turkey created a new world order which was outdated from the start. The Kurds ended up getting the shortest end of the stick.

Albane Simon

Lausanne centenary: The treaty that continues to pain the region

The treaty which gave rise to modern Turkey created a new world order which was outdated from the start. The Kurds ended up getting the shortest end of the stick.

Al Majalla - London 22, Jul 2023

Sami Moubayed Archive

Abdul Rahman al-Yusuf: The Syrian pasha who was killed three times

The president of the Shura Council during Ottoman rule was assassinated and purposely left out of Syrian history. The burning down of his family mansion this week was the final nail in his coffin.

Sami Moubayed 20, Jul 2023

Supplied

The first Arab Congress of 1913 and its tragic outcome

The 110th anniversary of the first Arab Congress in Paris sheds light on a tumultuous era in Arab history as its people battled for reform under the Ottoman Empire. However, it had a tragic ending.

Sami Moubayed 23, Jun 2023

The architects of the 1913 coup were officers from the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP)

Jamie Wignall

The coup that brought down the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman coups inspired similar coups against leaders in Iran, Iraq and Syria

Sami Moubayed 28, Feb 2023

Al-Alfy Street in downtown Cairo. (Credit: Salwa Samir)

Al-Alfy: Egypt’s Champs-Elysées

During his reign, Khedive Ismail (r. 1863-1879) had dreamt to make downtown Cairo resemble the European countries that underwent remarkable progress in the field of architecture at that time…

Salwa Samir 14, Jan 2023

The stage consists of a round wooden platform as a stage surrounded by a small wooden partition with two doors for the dervishes to enter and leave before and after their Mawlawi performance. (Credit: Salwa Samir)

Takiya Al-Mawlawiyah

Takiya Al-Mawlawiyah, in Cairo’s historic neighbourhood of El-Darb El-Ahmar, is the only remaining Takiya with dervish theater. It has a rich history that dates back to the 14th century. Takiya…

Salwa Samir 06, Aug 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) shake hands after a press conference in Sochi, Russia, where they agreed on the ten points of the Russian-Turkish memorandum on northeast Syria/AP

How Did Ankara Succeed in Luring Moscow into Mediation with Ukraine?

Offers of political mediation between Russia and Ukraine have not stopped since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis in 2014 and the tragic events that followed, reaching their climax these days,…

Samy Amara 01, Apr 2022

Cover of "Stories My Father Told Me" By Elia Zughaib and Helen Zughaib

Memories from Syria

The recent Syrian immigration to the West after the start of the civil war was not the first, although it has been massive in scale, and involved utmost cruelty. The first wave was during the end of…

Mohammad Ali Salih 04, Feb 2022

Popular
Editor's Pick

A portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is pictured with its frame broken in a Syrian regime's Political Security Branch facility on the outskirts of the central city of Hama following its capture.

OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP

Profiles

Assad's fall: The end of an era

08 December 2024

In just over a week, a lightning rebel offensive has collapsed five decades of draconian Assad rule. Al Majalla looks back at the political career of the former Syrian president.

Sami Moubayed

Al Majalla

Politics

Mark Rutte: It's important Ukraine negotiates from a position of strength

06 December 2024

NATO's secretary general tells Al Majalla it's up to Kyiv to set the timing and conditions for talks with Moscow and affirms the alliance's strong ties with the Gulf and growing unease with China

Ibrahim Hamidi

OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP

Politics

Why did Assad fall so easily?

07 December 2024

After over two decades of rule, following three decades of his father Hafez al-Assad's rule, Bashar has fled following a lightning rebel offensive that swept the country

Omer Onhon

A protester holds a poster with an image of South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol during a candlelight rally calling for the ouster of the president in Gwanghwamun in Seoul on December 5, 2024.

ANTHONY WALLACE / AFP

Politics

Are democracies doomed to gridlock and dysfunction?

07 December 2024

From France to South Korea, US democratic allies are descending into political chaos

Emma Ashford and Matthew Kroenig

Culture & Social Affairs

Oscar submissions reflect Arab hopes and realities

06 December 2024

Gaza, repentance, sexual fluidity, child abduction, and football through adversity all feature in these longlisted works that together reflect the social realities and hopes of today's Middle East

Areej Jamal

Sections

Regions

More

LATEST ISSUE

This day in history: Turkey abolishes the Caliphate

Lausanne centenary: The treaty that continues to pain the region

Abdul Rahman al-Yusuf: The Syrian pasha who was killed three times

The first Arab Congress of 1913 and its tragic outcome

The coup that brought down the Ottoman Empire

Al-Alfy: Egypt’s Champs-Elysées

Takiya Al-Mawlawiyah

How Did Ankara Succeed in Luring Moscow into Mediation with Ukraine?

Memories from Syria

Assad's fall: The end of an era

Mark Rutte: It's important Ukraine negotiates from a position of strength

Why did Assad fall so easily?

Are democracies doomed to gridlock and dysfunction?

Oscar submissions reflect Arab hopes and realities

OPINIONS

Syria needed tough pragmatism, not democratic idealism

Is Syria heading for a bright new beginning or an even darker future?

Saudi Arabia’s 2025 budget balances spending with stability

The history of Syria's not-so-new flag

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter