Abstract:

İzmit had been seperated from Vilayet of Hüdavendigar and had become governed as a seperate Sanjak since 1888. According to 1914 census, Sanjak's population was approximately  325 000 in which there were 55 000 Armenians. Amongst the Armenian population who had been in pleasant relations with Turks for centuries, activities against the Ottoman Empire were increased by the incitements of foreign forces in late 19th century. Nationalist ideas and idea of founding Great Armenia by seperating it from Ottoman Empire became more and more popular among the Armenian minorities through the propagandas, provacation of Armenian Church and works of Armenian associations. Impacts of those activities became revealed in İzmit Sanjak too. Attacks of Armenain mobs to state officials and to the populace were increased. Armenains had seen the allience of Ottoman Empire with central powers in WW-I as an opportunity and raised their seperative activities. Due to the violent actions of Armenian mobs, the Empire had to impose the Law of Deportation. During the enforcement of the law, priority to deportate was given to the ones who had attended to the violent political actions or supported them; and Armenians who were Catholic or who serve the state and their families were not subject to the Law of Deportation. In the upcoming days; Armenians from those parties in İzmit -which is located on deportation route-, who had been loyal to the state and not subject to the law, were found committed crimes against public; therefore the Law of Deportation began to enforced to all Armenians. In 1915-16, Armenians from İzmit Sanjak were deportated to the territories in the east of Syria and in the west of Mosul Vilayet. They were brought back to their former territories after cassatiation of the law. During that traffic of population, some of the deported Armenians lost their lives. Armenians who had come back from deportation received back their properties and also received seed and household goods aid from the state. İzmit Deportation Case is one of the proceedings that were due to the complaints of Armenians about the enforcement of the Law of Deportation. Some officials and civilians were sentenced in tribunals of that case.

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