The Ottoman empire's secular history undermines sharia claims
A new paper shows 18th- and 19th-century Ottoman rulers decriminalised homosexuality and promoted women's education
Hardline Muslim groups often portray the Ottoman empire as a magic template for a global caliphate. This is then used as a springboard for grandiose arguments that paint a caliphate as viable, and deem it as the only credible model of governance for the future. These arguments are based on a belief that the empire adhered to a single interpretation of sharia (Islamic law) for over 600 years, and – crucially – that its success was contingent on this.
More:The Ottoman empire's secular history undermines sharia claims | Tehmina Kazi | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
