The bill of rights is very good in that introduces to us the conception of political rights in as well as showing that individual right were prominent in the Ottoman mind.
This is especially important because of the popular perception in many circles that the Islamic faith cannot conceivably be associated with granting individual rights. People would rather think of them as barbaric and incapable of human rights but the Bill of Rights disproves this notion.
It is further elevated in value by the fact that it represents proof that under the Ottomans’ Muslim empire, Christians and Jews enjoyed equal rights and expectations as Muslims. Before the Bill, they had had rights but within their own communities with the distinction that they were not equal to Muslims, hence practices such as enslaving Christians and Jews but never Muslims. With the Bill of rights things change as it initiates the process of ensuring equality between Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the Ottoman Empire.
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Even after the number of courses I've taken regarding Islam, and how many different points of view from various teachers, class mates, adults, et cetera I have received, I still find my self surprised each time new misconceptions are brought to my attention. I'm glad you intertwined this idea of Islamic misconceptions in your blog entry.. So many people, not just Americans, are incredibly ignorant towards Muslims and the Islamic religion. Especially after 9/11 I feel like many students and adults express their opinions and "knowledge" of Muslims and their ways of life without really knowing anything about this religious group. More than once have I found myself trying to defend or at least explaining the reality of this non-violent religious group to ignorant young adults who chose to express their opinions but have no real knowledge on the topic whatsoever. sometimes I wish more people read books or took their education a bit more seriously..
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