The symposium “A Scholar and Statesman of the Late Ottoman Period: Ahmet Cevdet Pasha”, organised by our Faculty in cooperation with the Atatürk Cultural Centre, was held on 22 October 2026 in the Sezai Karakoç Hall. Over the course of the day, Ahmet Cevdet Pasha’s historiography, understanding of law, views on Ottoman modernisation and career as a statesman were examined from the perspectives of different disciplines.

The opening addresses were delivered by Prof. Dr. Münire Kevser Baş, Vice-Rector of ASBU, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeki Eraslan, President of the Atatürk Cultural Centre. In the first session, chaired by Assist. Prof. Dr. Cumhur Bekar, Prof. Dr. Selim Tezcan discussed the Crusades in Ahmet Cevdet Pasha’s historiography, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslı Yiğit the perception of Russia and the Balkan question in the Tezâkir, and Res. Asst. Dr. Muhammed Yasir Okumuş Ottoman modernisation in the Pasha’s thought and verse.

In the second session, chaired by our Dean, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Bilge, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeki Eraslan examined the principle of merit in public administration, Prof. Dr. Ergin Ergül the legacy of Ahmet Cevdet Pasha in the organisation of the judiciary and its transmission to the Republic, Prof. Dr. Hayrunnisa Özdemir the right of pre-emption (şuf’a) in the Mecelle and in Turkish civil law, and Prof. Dr. Mustafa Avcı the Pasha’s contribution to the formation of Turkish private law terminology. In the third session, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ersin Durmuş, Prof. Dr. Şahban Yıldırımer, Prof. Dr. Harun Savut, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihan Kılıç and Dr. Vahap Sayın presented papers on Ahmet Cevdet Pasha as a jurist, the Pasha’s work in Qur’anic exegesis and the Pasha’s office as official court historian.