Were Atatürk and the Republic irreligious?

Those who wish to harm Atatürk and his Republic claim that the cadre who founded the Republic distanced themselves from religion.

Contrary to what those who hold this view believe, Atatürk was respectful of religion and sincere in matters of faith. However, he was against the exploitation of religious sentiments for political purposes. Mustafa Kemal Pasha was the Commander of the 16th Corps in 1916. The following is written in the diary of the Corps Chief of Staff, Colonel İzzettin Çalışlar:

“24 September 1332 (7 October 1916). The weather is nice… Tomorrow we will perform the Eid prayer at the town (Silvan) mosque…”

“25 September 1332 (8 October 1916). Eid al-Adha. The weather is very good. In the morning, we went to the mosque on horseback together with the Commander Pasha (Mustafa Kemal) and high-ranking officers… Since the congregation consisted of two sects, Hanafi and Shafi'i, the Hanafis prayed first, then the Shafi'is. After the prayer, we went to the government house…”

Before the Great Offensive, while inspecting military units, Atatürk frequently had the Quran recited by hafiz (memorizers) together with İsmet Pasha (İnönü). Those lines, which appear in Atatürk's notebook number 19, are as follows:

“9 March 1922, Sivrihisar. I got up at 7 o'clock at İbrahim Bey's house. I read a book for a while. Inspection of the First Division, 5th Regiment Assault Battalion, and a cavalry squadron at Aktaş. We were pleased. İsmet Pasha arrived towards 8 o'clock. First, dinner. After dinner, the final move was decided for 10 March. After that, we had the Quran recited by hafiz.”

“10 March 1922, Aziziye. Departure from Hüsrevpaşa to the outpost positions at 9 o'clock in the morning… At 5 o'clock in Aziziye, I felt tired. İsmet, Yakup Şevki, and Selahattin Pashas had arrived. We ate dinner together… I had the Quran recited by hafiz…”

“17 March 1922, Akşehir. Arrival at headquarters, I remained alone until 8 o'clock. Mustafa Abdülhak Bey arrived. We had the Quran recited by hafiz.” On subsequent dates, the Quran was also recited by hafiz.

***

To ensure the understanding of religion, Atatürk had the main source of the Islamic religion, the Holy Quran, translated and interpreted by a master such as Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır. Furthermore, he had the Sahih al-Bukhari, one of the most reliable hadith sources, translated into Turkish.

The Ottoman Empire had excluded Turks and did not include them in state administration. With Atatürk and the Republic, for the first time in centuries, the children of ordinary people were able to become Chief of General Staff, Minister, Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament, and President. Is it not a requirement of our religion for those who reached these positions thanks to Atatürk and the Republic to convey their gratitude and appreciation to Atatürk? Are you also rejecting the hadith, “Loyalty comes from faith”?..

If it weren't for Atatürk, there would be neither a homeland nor an office left…

***

Atatürk means reason, science, full independence, anti-imperialism, and hope. The Minister of National Education of the period, Dr. Reşit Galip, asked Atatürk a question about what he left as a legacy to this society. Atatürk gave the following response:

“I am not leaving any verses, any dogmas, or any stereotyped rules as a spiritual legacy. My spiritual legacy is science and reason… What I want to do for the Turkish Nation and what I have tried to achieve are clear. Those who want to adopt me after I am gone, if they accept the guidance of reason and science on this fundamental axis, they will be my spiritual heirs.”

The 10th Year March of the Republic begins with, “We emerged from every war in ten years with our heads held high.” This war is the war of enlightenment and modernization that followed the War of Independence. The third President of the Republic of Turkey and founder of the Democrat Party, Celal Bayar, gave the most meaningful and historical answer to those who blame Atatürk and his Republic by saying: “To love you, Atatürk, is a national act of worship for the Turkish Nation.”

***

Who does not love Atatürk?.. The countries that occupied Istanbul do not love him; because he saved Istanbul from them. The USA and the West do not love him; because he tore up the Treaty of Sèvres and threw it in the trash. The Greeks do not love him; because he saved Anatolia from occupation and drove them into the sea. The PKK terrorist organization and the supporters of Sheikh Said do not love him; because he prevented the project that would have torn Turkey apart. Those who collaborated with the British and other occupying states during the occupation period do not love him; because he prevented them from becoming slaves. Those who envy countries like Afghanistan do not love him; because he founded the 17th Turkish state. Those who do not love Atatürk are now lynching the lieutenants who say, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.”

Those who lynch the lieutenants, those who do not love Atatürk; in the past, they stood against the National Struggle alongside the occupiers. In the recent period, they collaborated with the CIA and FETÖ. Together with the CIA and FETÖ, they purged the heroic Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) through conspiracy cases. They paved the way for the treacherous coup attempt of 15 July 2016.

If the adhan is being recited in the mosque today, if the glorious Turkish Flag is waving, if we are living free and independent under this blue sky, if our women have the same rights as men, we owe all of this to Atatürk…

Can a person live in this homeland and not love Atatürk?..

Remove Atatürk and the Republic from Turkey, and what remains is Afghanistan…

“Loyalty comes from faith.” Instead of committing sins, pray for Atatürk every day… You will earn merit…

Bibliography: Mustafa Onar, Atatürk’ün Kurtuluş Savaşı Yazışmaları, Vol. 1, Ankara, 1995; Hasan Rıza Soyak, Atatürk’ten Hatıralar, Vol. 2, Istanbul; Yüksel Mert, Bilinmeyen Atatürk, 2010; İzzeddin Çalışlar-İsmet Görgülü, Orgeneral İzzettin Çalışlar’ın Not Defteri’nden On Yıllık Savaşın Günlüğü, 2007; Hikmet Özdemir, Atatürk’ü Yeniden Düşünmek, 2008; Şevket Süreyya Aydemir, Tek Adam, Volumes 1-2-3, 1981; Sinan Meydan, Akl-ı Kemal, Vol. 1, 2014. Sinan Meydan, El-Cevap, 2014.