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Pakistan's Mock Devshirme

Reader comment on item: Modern-day Versions of Military Slavery

Submitted by Jack Berger (United States), Jun 16, 2006 at 13:14

Your discussion of the Ottoman practice of devsirme immediately brought to mind the infamous anti-Semitic ukase of Czar Nicholas I of Russia, under which young Jewish boys were forcibly conscripted into the Czar's Army for a term of service of 25 years.

This policy was clearly aimed at undermining the Jewish community, and hasten its assimilation into the Russian mass.

One wonders if the idea for this travesty has its origins in the earlier Ottoman practice.

A parallel thread can be found in the matter of the Nazi use of the Yellow Star. If one goes back to the 12th and 13th centuries, one discovers that the Roman Catholic Church persecuted the Cathars as heretics, and forced them to wear a yellow crucifix. They, in turn may have gotten the idea from the Moors in Spain, who were wont to do this to all manner of infidels, but Jews in particular.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (20) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Mamelukes [29 words]AlbertE.Jan 19, 2017 19:46235581
Changes In Islamic Slavery Reflect Cultural Decline [62 words]DaveJan 19, 2017 15:28235568
Q for D. Pipes re Muslim juridical sources on slavery [117 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
medieval historianJan 4, 2011 16:25181547
Offended by a cartoon ?... or... Offended by the abuse of [y]our children ? [54 words]Rochelle MichaelsApr 23, 2008 09:32126568
1What did you expect ! [90 words]dfwhite18438Apr 23, 2008 02:00126541
1What faith is this [61 words]LynnApr 22, 2008 10:35126479
1Pakistan's Mock Devshirme [119 words]BobJul 1, 2006 23:1848694
Slavery allowed in Koran [165 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
MargaretJun 18, 2006 10:3247856
Muslim? [24 words]AlbertE.Jan 19, 2017 19:4947856
Not mere slavery... [18 words]Kevin MJun 17, 2006 09:2847828
Slavery is widespread [248 words]Abdul Rahman ReijerinkJun 17, 2006 06:1047818
1Pakistan's Mock Devshirme [119 words]steven LJun 16, 2006 17:0947788
Further on Devshirmes [139 words]Ali KoknarJun 16, 2006 14:4747773
1Further on Devshirmes [62 words]T H LaneJun 16, 2006 23:5047773
Pakistan's Mock Devshirme [151 words]Jack BergerJun 16, 2006 13:1447769
Islamic apologia by Encyclopedia of Orient [127 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
VijayJun 16, 2006 05:2747752
1Concept of slavery was different in Islam from what we understand today [618 words]BilalJun 17, 2006 15:3947752
2Yes, it was much worse [45 words]Alain Jean-MairetJun 18, 2006 01:0647752
Slavery can indeed be understood many ways, and Bilal is correct in that. [119 words]SamirDec 26, 2010 16:3647752
1sources? [189 words]historianDec 28, 2010 03:1847752

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