Safar Barlek

The Ottoman Empire's rule over Saudi Arabia began in 1517 with the conquest of Egypt by Yavuz Sultan Selim and lasted until the early 20th century. During this time, Ottoman rule brought about various innovations and changes in Saudi Arabia. Here are some of the important headings: 1. Centralized Administration and Administrative Structure:

The Ottomans established a centralized administrative structure by dividing the different regions of Saudi Arabia into provinces and sanjaks. The Hejaz Region included the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and had a special status.

Local administrators in the region were appointed by the Ottoman sultan, but local tribal leaders and religious authorities also had significant influence.

2. Infrastructure and Transportation:

The Ottomans developed the transportation infrastructure in the region, especially with the Hejaz railway project. The Hejaz Railway, completed in 1908, extended from Damascus to Mecca and facilitated the Hajj journey.

In addition, various projects were carried out to maintain and expand the holy places in Mecca and Medina.

3. Religious and Cultural Protection:

The Ottoman administration undertook the task of protecting and developing the holy places of Islam. Importance was given to the construction of mosques and madrasahs in cities such as Mecca and Medina.

In addition, various measures were taken to ensure that the Hajj ritual was carried out regularly and safely.

4. Trade and Economy:

The Ottomans encouraged trade in Saudi Arabia and controlled trade routes using the region's strategic location on the Red Sea.

Visitors arriving during the Hajj period increased the economic vitality of the region.

5. Security and Public Order:

The Ottomans maintained military units to prevent conflicts between local tribes and to ensure the general security of the region.

In addition, the security of the Hajj routes was of great importance and various measures were taken for this purpose.

These innovations and the influence of the Ottoman administration played an important role in the historical development of Saudi Arabia. However, the Ottomans generally allowed local traditions and structures to continue, respecting the unique socio-cultural dynamics of the region.

Hahaha, so the British agent Lawrence saved the Arab people? Such claims are really very interesting and worth questioning. However, in order to understand this story, it is necessary to think more deeply. I have a question: Why would the Ottomans want to attack a people they had been living together with for 500 years? The Ottoman Empire had lived in peace with the people of the Arab geography for centuries and had taken care to protect the social, cultural and religious structures in these regions. So, what reason could the Ottomans have for attacking these people? Moreover, the strategic interests of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of stability in the region clearly show that such an attack was illogical.

Now, let's come to another important point: Lawrence's role. Lawrence incited the Arab tribes to rebel by inciting them against the Ottomans and promising them that they would establish a state. This was England's use of the Arabs' nationalist feelings to protect and expand its interests in the region. The British used agents like Lawrence to accelerate the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and bring the region under their control. However, during this period, the majority of the Arab people remained loyal to the Ottomans and resisted these provocations of the British. Lawrence's actions can only be considered as an opportunism in a weak moment of the Ottomans and cannot be said to be a real savior for the vast majority of the Arab people. After all, the Ottomans and the Arabs lived together under the same empire for centuries and shared a common history and cultural heritage. Therefore, the claim that the Ottomans attacked their own people does not correspond to historical facts.

"The new series portrays Fahreddin Pasha not as someone who defended Medina, but as someone who besieged it and harmed its people. This is quite misleading. Historically, Fahreddin Pasha was a leader who courageously defended Medina during World War I. The series distorts history in this way, which makes it harder to access accurate information and can lead viewers to form incorrect impressions. It is important for historical content to be based on real and accurate information. I believe that productions like this should consider historical accuracy.

While Fahreddin Pasha's respect for and struggle in Medina are the subject of books, you cannot tarnish him with a TV series sorry.

First of all, I am making this review as a cinephile who is an expert on the history of the Middle East. I tried to complete all the episodes by trying my patience, but I must admit that I had a very difficult time!

Although cinematographically exaggerated, a certain effort was made.

Apart from that, especially the character of Fahreddin Pasha is constructed as an antihero who does not fit the reality at all, very remote from being even close to objectivity and is completely in line with the current political indoctrination of the country.

Although I don't have any experience in that, I'm sure similar dramas can be found in North Korean movie industry.

The series "Safar Barlek" (2023) did not meet my expectations. First of all, the script lacked depth and was full of clichés. The storyline was extremely predictable, and the characters were flat and uninteresting. The direction followed an ordinary line rather than offering creative solutions that would increase the impact of scenes and dialogues. The acting performances, unfortunately, could not rise above mediocrity; most of the actors could not bring enough credibility to their roles. The tempo problems were also noticeable throughout the series, many scenes were unnecessarily extended and progressed at a slow pace that could bore the viewer. In general, "Safar Barlek" is unfortunately not a production worth watching. This series will be a big disappointment for viewers looking for deep storytelling or strong character development. It also has little to do with history... a movie that reeks of racism...