Striking statement from Boris Johnson about the slave past in the Ottoman Empire

Discussions about coming to terms with the slave trade and colonial past in England have gained a new dimension. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson brought up his family's history dating back to the Ottoman period and criticized the demand for apology and compensation from today's societies for historical injustices.

HOW DID HE BECOME INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSION?

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's statement in his article published in The Guardian last month that his country could apologize for its history of slave trade and colonialism caused political controversy.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson also participated in the statements, which were especially reacted by the opposition Conservative Party, with his column in the Daily Mail newspaper.

While criticizing demands regarding Britain's colonial past, Johnson gave an example from his own family's history dating back to the Ottoman Empire.

"BUYED FROM THE SLAVE MARKET"

Johnson stated that his great-grandmother was a Circassian girl who was sold in a slave market in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul when she was only 13 years old.

Describing his family's history, Johnson said:

Fortunately, the little girl was lucky. A helpful Turkish woman likes it and buys it. He educates her and gets her married to his 43-year-old son. Her name is Hanife Feride... We Johnsons come from slave ancestry. Now, as a well-to-do family, should we ask for compensation? Why should today's Turkish taxpayer pay for actions taken during the Ottoman period under a completely different jurisdiction and administration?

JOHNSON'S OTTOMAN PAST

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's connection to Türkiye dates back to Ali Kemal, who was a journalist and minister in the last period of the Ottoman Empire.

Johnson, the great-grandson of Ali Kemal, is sometimes referred to as 'Turkish Boris' and 'Boris from Çankırı' in Türkiye due to this family bond.

WHO IS ALI KEMAL?

Ali Kemal (1869–1922) was one of the controversial figures active in the fields of journalism, writing and politics in the last period of the Ottoman Empire. Ali Kemal, born in Istanbul, II. He wrote articles in newspapers such as İkdam and Peyam during the Constitutional Monarchy period. He served as Minister of Education and Minister of Internal Affairs in the governments of Damat Ferit Pasha. He is the paternal great-grandfather of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Ali Kemal, who hostilely opposed the War of Independence and the Anatolian movement led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha, criticized the Ankara government in his writings and advocated establishing close relations with England for the future of the Ottoman Empire. After the War of Independence was won, he became the target of intense reactions due to his political stance. In particular, his anti-War of Independence publications led him to be remembered as one of the most controversial journalists in the history of the Republic.

HOW WAS HE KILLED?