Abstract:

The first developments regarding human rights and freedoms date back to the 1200s. The Magna Carta, in which the powers of the king were restricted for the first time in Western states, is accepted as the first known legal regulation. The issue of human rights emerged in the Ottoman State, especially after the French Revolution. It is seen that the first developments in human rights started in 1808 with the Charter of Alliance. This first regulation was followed by the Imperial Edict of Reform (Gulhane) issued in 1839. With the edict, which is seen as the most important constitutional movement in the Ottoman State, the legal basis for human rights was established. Numerous regulations were made in the Ottoman State until the declaration of the republic. Examples include the 1856 the Edict of Reform and the 1876 the Ottoman Basic Law. After the proclamation of the Republic, the 1924 Constitution strengthened the legal infrastructure in terms of fundamental rights and freedoms and ensured that important steps were taken in human rights. According to some authors, the Imperial Edict of Reform (Gulhane) is accepted as the "Declaration of the First Rights of the Turks". In addition, the Imperial Edict laid the foundation for the establishment of the Republican regime, accelerated the innovations to be made, and paved the way for the implementation of western-style education and legal systems in our country. In this study, by examining the historical development of human rights, 1808 the Charter of Alliance and 1839 the Imperial Edict of Reform (Gulhane) were evaluated in terms of human rights and compared with Magna Carta.

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