ASSASSINATION OF A TURKISH PRIEST.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3692, 15 May 1883, Page 4

ASSASSINATION OF A TURKISH PRIEST.

The Varna correspondent of the Daily News states that the Turkish Government are doing - their best to keep secret the assassination of the Imaum, Avhich occurred in the mosque of Akserai, Stamboul. The newspapers arc forbidden to speak of it, and the only allusion allowed to bo published is a notification from the Press department that the assassin has been arrested, and will be sent to prison. I lis examination is conducted with closed doors. The Moslems belicA'o that as the crime was committed in a, mosque he will be condemned to death, but hitherto the present Sultan has not permitted the execution of a single capital sentence upon a Moslem. The facts arc the following :—" One day at noon the Imaum read the ordinary prayers, in one of Avhich occurs a, verso of the Koran Avhich says that rulers ought to be just and act righteously, and that justice should be meted out to everybody Avithout distinction. The prayer Avas then continued, and Allah thanked that under the Sultan's rule the government avus in accordance with this teaching. As the "words were uttered, Sali, a Sophta, ran to the pulpit stairs and shouted out: ' AVhat you say is false. AYe arc ground down to poverty, and living under a tyranny. There is no justice. You lie, and deserve death.' Saying this, he stabbed the Imamu. The congregation rushed out of the mosque. It Avas believed iv the quarter that a revolution had broken out, and news Avas at once sent to the palace, Avhich immediately ordered the dismissal of the Police Minister. Another murder of a Mollah has been committed in the same quarter. Tho lavo murders haAX caused considerable excitement in Stamboul and great irritation against the palace."