He taught at an elementary school in Bursa, preached at the Sehzade MosqueinConstantinople (now Istanbul), wrote for Filip (Philip) Efendi’s newspaper Muhbir, and worked in different positions at offices in Simav, Plovdiv, and Sofia. He was a member of the Young Ottomans and editor of its official journal. He was also one of the contributors of pan-Islamist newspaper Basiret.[3]
In 1867 he escaped prosecution by fleeing to Paris along with fellow Young Ottomans Namık Kemal and Ziya Pasha, where he stayed until Abdülaziz was dethroned in 1876.[4] With his background in journalism, Suavi was placed in charge of the first Young Ottoman publication to appear in Europe, Muhbir. The newspaper eventually became an embarrassment to the Young Ottomans, who soon thereafter requested that Suavi remove the Young Ottoman association with the publication. Suavi drifted around to various cities in Europe and grew bitter against the Young Ottomans, continuing to publish in other venues, including a newspaper named『Ulûm Gazetesi』(Journal of Sciences) he wrote, edited, and published himself.[5] He lambasted both the republican Young Ottomans and the monarchist Ottoman Sultan's government alike as enemies of the people. Despite his opposition to the contemporary Sultan's government, Suavi's writings showed great respect to the institution of the Sultan, which in his belief would best be filled, for the common good of the people, by an enlightened absolutist.
After the conservative Abdul Hamid II became sultan, Suavi attempted a coup in 1878 (Turkish-language article) in an attempt to end the increasing authoritarianism and reinstall Murad V, who had been sympathetic to liberal ideals. The coup failed and Ali Suavi was killed in the attempt.
^Erimtan, Can (30 March 2008). Ottomans Looking West?: The Origins of the Tulip Age and Its Development in Modern Turkey. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 106. ISBN978-1-84511-491-6.
^Tekin, Kenan. “A Journal of Science without Boundaries: Ali Suavi’s Ulûm Gazetesi.” In International Perspectives on Publishing Platforms, 178-182. Routledge, 2019. ISBN: 978-0-429-49151-1.
