إعدام السلطات العثمانية لمواطن فارسي في بغداد [ظ‎‎٥‎٤‎٨] (٢٠/١٤)

[No. 5.]
Translation of the protest of the Persian Consul-General, to His Excellency Midhut Pasha,
dated \§th —31^ July 1871.
A Persian subject, named Sbah Riza, was lately seized near Kerkook and ,
sent to Baghdad upon which you addressed me a letter No. 82, dated 5th—17th l
July 1871, pointing out the necessity of having an officer to be present at the
examination.
On the receipt of the said communication I at once sent my Dragoman
agreeably to usages, and he was present only on the first sitting of the examina
tion. Afterwards, before the trial was ended and before the decree of the
mujlis was issued, without knowing whether or not he was a military man of
the Persian army, and without giving information to the Consulate in what
manner he was to be treated, to-day the said Shah Riza has been unjustly
made over to a company of soldiers and carried outside the gate and shot, and
his body left on the ground. I have not seen in any part of the Turkish
dominions, wdiere I have resided several years holding Government appoint
ments, any one, even those seized in brigandage and proved guilty, treated in
such a cold manner. Knowing this to be unjust, and such unfit treatment
of a subject of the Persian Government being contrary to convention and
treaty, I am obliged to acquainted you of the above, and with much regret
hereby make protest and will notify the same to places concerned.
[No. 6.]
Translation of a letter from His Excellency Midhut Pasha, to the Persian Consul-General ,—-
dated the X^th Jemazil-awul 1288 (corresponding with the 31^ July 18711.
Your letter with translation dated 18th Jemazil-awul (corresponding with
the 31st July 1871), making remarks and protesting against the execution of
Shah Riza, has been received and taken into consideration. The fact of crossing
the frontier from several spots, and every day and every hour coming to the
Turkish territory and constantly causing loss of life and property in company
with the troublesome Hamawunds and other Persians, being quite evident and
admitted by great and small, this mischievous man had on this occasion joined
four other companions to commit brigandage, crossed the frontier and actually
committed plunder and carried arms against the troops who had gone in their
pursuit, and, in fighting with the said troops, his companion, Syud Kasim, was
killed, the other companions returned to Persia and escaped. He, Shah Riza,
was wounded and seized, and in the trial, both at Shahrizoor and the Divan-
i-Tnmeez of this place, by his confession it has been proved that he had joined
those brigands; and, in order to make highway robbery, he had actually crossed
the frontier to the Turkish territory and committed brigandage and borne
arms against the troops; he, moreover, being a mulazim in the Persian army.
Sentence for his execution given in the Divan-i-Tumeez and carried into effect
according to authority invested on the Yilayet, whether or not the same has
been in conformity with the Turkish rules, or whether his trial had been accom
plished, the proces-verbals, both of Kerkook and of this place, together with
the decree issued by the .Divan-i-Tumeez, give sufficient explanation on these
points. With us there is no necessity for further explanation. As to the
remark made in your letter as to its being contrary to conventions and treaties,
there is no provision in any of the conventions now in force with the Persian
Government admitting protection so openly to such brigands who cross the
frontier in bands, commit murder, and plunder and go back to the other side
and are sheltered ; and there being no such condition providing that such people,
when apprehended and proved guilty of having crossed this side of the frontier,
should be forgiven, on the contrary according to the Turkish regulations their
punishment is deemed necessary in conformity with the established rules and
regulations, and the necessary steps in this matter being this.
Por the preservation of the amity and friendship of both Governments, it
is necessary that such brigandage shall not be countenanced, and they should
not be allowed the advantage of passing from one territory to the other,
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