Some notes from here and there:
Here’s a Reuters dispatch from concerning tax resistance in Ottoman Iraq:
Turkish Tax Troubles.
Persian Passive Resistance.
[Reuter’s Telegram.]
Lahore, .
News has reached here of trouble among the Persians at Kerbela, near Baghdad,
in consequence of Turkish exactions. It appears that a Persian shopkeeper
refused to comply with the excessive demands of the local Turkish tax
gatherer, and was arrested.
He was brought before the Cadi, who spat upon him, and the Persian Consul, to
whom he appealed, treated him with contempt. The aggrieved shopkeeper
harangued the crowd, and two thousand angry Persians accompanied him to the
British Vice-Consul, of whom they begged protection against Turkish misrule.
The affair was reported to Constantinople by the officials in Baghdad, with
the result that the local authorities at Kerbela have been ordered not to
press for recovery of the taxes, pending the consideration of the whole
question.
Chief of Police Killed.
A Reuter message from Constantinople states that a serious disturbance has
occurred at Erzerum in consequence of the exile of the Mufti and two Mahomedan
citizens of that place, owing to their alleged action in on the occasion of a demonstration
against the introduction of the new income-tax. The Mahomedans clamoured for
the return of the exiles, and the Vali fled from his residence. The Chief of
Police was killed by the mob, and the shops were closed. The Government
buildings and the residences of the Vali and the foreign Consuls were guarded
by troops, but, notwithstanding the precautions taken, some damage was done to
Government property. Order was finally restored on the exiles being brought
back to their homes. The movement was exclusively confined to the Mahomedans,
the Christians holding aloof.
You can find more complete information about that second revolt and its context at this Picket Line entry.
