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The Ottoman Empire has ever been welcoming and tolerant of all its subjects and peoples. All Ottomans, no matter their creed, ethnicity or sex, are treated with the respect and dignity they so deserve by the state. Today, as a democracy, all peoples from across the Empire are represented in the General Assembly, and all peoples of all the vilayet elect a vali to best administer each vilayet, meeting the needs of the diverse peoples who inhabit our good nation, all different, but all, undeniably, Ottoman.

Thus it pains us greatly to see nations whose one reason for going to war is greed and an incomprehensibly evil, godless disposition, using the excuse of religion to wage war against us. Not only do they insult us by suggesting we oppress the People of the Book who are to us as brothers and the dearest of compatriots, but they add further pain to this by speaking of our religion of Islam in a way which is utterly reprehensible. 

You may insult our navy and our military prowess with taunts, your taunts shall not conquer our lands and defeat our mighty soldiers – mighty with God in their hearts and at their backs – but by insulting the monotheistic faith of Islam you not only insult the Ottoman Empire, you insult the hundreds of millions of Muslims across the world, and the Ottoman Empire, as the recognise Caliphate, cannot allow our faith to be thus slighted.

In response to this clear and open hostility, not just towards the Ottoman Empire, but towards the religion of Islam as a whole, the Ottoman Empire hereby fully mobilises all its forces and declares a Jihad against the tyrannical Empire of the Rus, the arrogant Prussians, the cowardly Kingdom of the Netherlands, the ever-treacherous Kingdom of Greece and the villainous Italians. May Allah, in his glory and might, strengthen the hearts and arms of the believers, and ever-aid our allies Austria and the United Principalities, who are true People of the Book and most deserving of our friendship, loyalty, and blood.

We call upon Muslims everywhere to rise up to defend Muslims and Islam, we call upon the Ummah to unite against all who would seek to destroy it and slur our faith.

[b]His Sacred and Imperial Majesty, Caliph Abdülaziz Khan I, by the Might and Will of the Almighty, Emperor of the Ottomans, Sovereign of the House of Osman, Sultan of Sultans, Khan of Khans, Commander of the Faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe, Custodian of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, Emperor of Rome and many other countries and cities.[/b]

[b]A speech by Hakham Bashi (Chief Rabbi) Yakir Gueron, published in newspaper Tercüman-ı Ahvâl[/b]:

Today our glorious, democratic Ottoman nation finds itself embroiled in a war to uphold justice and truth in a world over-run by oppression and lies. Today I stand before you, a Jewish rabbi. But I am more than a Jewish rabbi: I am an Ottoman rabbi, and proudly so! My country calls out, my brethren and compatriots, Muslim or Christian, my Ottoman brothers, have today been slighted and are today threatened. We are threatened!

It is our duty, as Ottomans who love this land, it is our duty, who call this nation home, it is our duty, as Jews who fear God and wish to see his justice and his truth everywhere, to stand steadfast by our nation, to fight for our nation, and proudly, gladly, die for our nation and the future of our people.

For centuries the Jews of Europe have been persecuted and killed for no other reason than being Jewish. For centuries we have found that our only refuge from those who would slaughter us has been in the lands of Islam. The day the rule of Islam is weakened in these lands, that is the day that all Jews who are safe here will be engulfed by the demons who in Europe wait.

The Ottoman Empire is our nation and protector, our homeland and upkeeper of truth, and we Ottomans do firmly stand by it, and will do so to the very end.

[b]A letter from Ecumenical Patriarch Joachim II of Constantinople to all Christians in the Empire, published in the same newspaper[/b]:

For centuries we have dwelled here. Here, where glorious Rome once ruled, we dwelled, in the Ottoman Empire. Over my life I have heard much talk of a need for Christians to liberate themselves from the oppression of the Muslim Caliphate and establish our own nations and states which can best serve us. I have always been of the opinion that doing so would be catastrophic, and I have always called for patience: for we have lived with our Muslim brethren for centuries, we have flourished here as much, if not more so, than Christians everywhere.

But there is a difference. Because here we have a voice, and here we have rights, and here we have democracy! Rule for the people, by the people, by the permission and blessing of God almighty. Today, we choose our vali, and he serves us and endeavours to create for us the life we wish to lead. One feels great sorrow to think that our brethren in Greece were so quick to declare independence and are today no freer than they were before they gained sovereignty. We, however, are free. No more do autocrats rule over us and dictate to us what we are and what we must be, we choose what we are!

Russia tells us we are oppressed! We reject their attempts to tell us what we are. Greece wants to create a nation for Greeks, no doubt to oppress us under the autocratic rule of another king, we reject their attempts to enslave us. Here, we are free, and for this freedom we shall fight, and for this freedom we shall die if need be. 

Ottoman Sultans over the ages have attempted to tell us we are Ottoman, and we rejected that too, we would not be forced! But today, they have created for us a nation to take pride in, a nation which defends justice and truth in the world just as it takes steps to uphold that same justice in the Empire. And it makes me say this: I am an Ottoman, I am a Christian Ottoman, and proudly so! This nation, my Christian brothers, is yours, God has answered our prayers and given us the freedom we all sought after, so who of you would not fight to defend the blessings which the Lord has rained upon him?

Our Christian brothers in Belgium have suffered greatly and have been humiliated, our hearts grieve for their losses, and our blood is hot with anger and fury at those who sow chaos and discord. I am glad that our Christian brothers in Romania and the Austrian Empire have seen reason and fight against the powers of Satan with all their power. To Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, upon you, your people and all who side with you my blessings. May God strengthen your heart and clear your mind and guide you in your divine mission to enlighten the sheep who stray from the flock. My prayers are with you, and may your victory be swift and mighty.