The Case of Misak Torlakian

Book excerpt: "The Case of Misak Torlakian is about the trial of Misak Torlakian, an Armenian Ottoman subject, by the British Military Court, which took place at 10:00 a.m. on August 11, 1921, on the charge of murdering Bihbud Khan Jivanshir, Ex-Minister of interior of Azerbaijan, outside the Pera Palace Hotel in Constantinople (Istanbul) on July 18, 1921. The Case of Misak Torlakian is the twin of The Case of Soghomon 'I'ehlirian. Both trials involved the murder of a tyrant, and both of the perpetrators were found not guilty. During both trials, history, theology, philosophy, physiology, psychology, and politics were invoked by both sides to sway the Military Judge in the case of Torlakian, and the Jury of Peers in the case of Tehlirian. Thus in addition to being landmark legal cases, these two trials reveal the prevailing mindsets and political strategies of Germans, Turks, Armenians and Azeris in the aftermath of WWI."--Back cover.