Özet:

Beginning from the 19th century, invasive actions of Western states towards Ottoman territories steadily increased. Sultan Abdülhamid II had to be vigilant all the time against the danger of separatist movements claiming caliphate among Muslim communities. Zaydi imams who called themselves “caliphs” and claimed to be descendants of the Prophet Muhammad had been keeping the inner regions of Yemen under their control. As a result of an important operation performed in 1872, the Ottoman Empire expanded its dominance over Yemen to cover the inner regions as well. Zaydi imams felt uncomfortable with the new developments. They began to revolt against the government frequently on the basis of increased rights of non-Muslims with the proclamation of the Tanzimat, especially by giving certain religious justifications. The efforts to compromise between Imam Yahya and the Ottoman government failed when Abdulhamid II was dethroned.

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