A STAMBOUL SCANDAL.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2146, 11 January 1881, Page 3

A STAMBOUL SCANDAL.

The Constantinople correspondent of the 11 Times ” telegraphs as follows : Id the Mussulman world of Stamboul the Creek and Montenegrin questions and all the other complications in which the Empire is involved have been for the moment eclipsed by the Hafyz scandal, which has caused more popular indignation than would be produced by a considerable cession of territory. The hero, Hafyz Pasha, is a man not unknown in England. He took a prominent part in the Bulgarian atrocities, and was one of the three indicated by Lord Derby as especially deserving of condign punishment. In spite of the energetic despatches written on that occasion he remained in the service, and more than a year ago was appointed Minister of Police. Last winter he again attracted the attention of the British diplomatists by the arbitrary arrest of Dr Koelle and the imprisonment of the Khodia Ahmed Tewfik Effendi. Sir Henry Loyard’s efforts on that occasion to get him dismissed proved ineffectual, and he continued until a few days ago to enjoy the confidence and favor of the Sultan. What chiefly recommended him to His Majesty was the extreme zeal he displayed in discovering political conspiracies and detecting deep-laid plots against the life of the Sovereign. How far he had a hand in inventing those conspiracies and plots it is impossible to say, but the general opinion is that he employed his talents more as an inventor than as a detective. That ha was inefficient and corrupt was no secret, and the fact was tolerably well proved, not only by the large number of daring robberies committed in the capital and its environs, but also by the large number of malefactors who were allowed to escape from the prisons. His Imperial master, however, pardoned all shortcomings and misdemeanors in consideration of his activity in ferreting out seditious designs, and protected him equally against Palace intrigues and foreign diplomatists. At the beginning of the present Oamazon Fast he determined to give new proofs of his devotion and energy by insisting on the customary religious observances being strictly respected. Among the orders which he gave for this purpose was one to the effect that any Mussulman women found in the streets wearing too transparent a veil, or otherwise departing from the strict prescriptions of the sacred law, should be at once arrested. A few days ago, in one of the principal streets of Stamboul, two zaptiebs on the look-out for fair delinquents noticed a young girl, about twelve years of age, whose dress did not quite come up to their standard of strict propriety, They at once accosted her and the negress who accompanied her, but before they could effect an arrest she escaped into the house of a near relative, a certain Sberab Bey, who is well known as a distinguished officer of the staff. The zaptiehs demanded that she should be given up to them, but their demand was refused, and the door was closed and barricaded against them. The altercation which ensued soon collected a largo crowd, the greater portion of which condemned in plain language the conduct of the police. When the discussion was at its height Hafyz Pasha appeared on the scene with a force of about twenty men, and, after using some violent language, in which he referred to the Sultan’s determination to prevent Giaour innovations among the faithful, he declared that if he were not instantly admitted he would have the door broken open. The proprietor remonstrated, but on being informed by Hafyz that the police were acting in accordance with his Majesty’s orders, he consented under protest, and allowed the girl to be taken to the police station. At the same time he took measures to have the affair brought to the knowledge of the Sultan, and some of his brother officers joined him in making representations to the Minister of War. These steps had the desired effect. The Sultan, on hearing that Hafyz had created a public scandal by violating the house of a good Mussulman, and had publicly used highly unbecoming language, ordered him to be dismissed and tried by court-martial. The preliminary investigation is already going on, and the demeanor of the accused under examination has raised doubts as to his sanity. He is to be tried also, it is stated, for peculations ; and as Said Pasha, the ex-Premier. who has now recovered his influence, is believed to be personally hostile to him, it is expected that he will not only be condemned, but, what is much more rare among Turkish delinquents, really punished.