Celal Yardımcı (1911–1986) was a Turkish politician who served as the minister of education and

minister of justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a v ...

in the 1950s. Being a member of the Democrat Party (DP) he was arrested and imprisoned following the

military coup A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such ...

in 1960.

Early life and education

He was born Hüseyin Celal in

Doğubayazıt Doğubayazıt ( ku, Bazîd, ) is a district of Ağrı Province of Turkey, and it is the easternmost district of Turkey, lying near the border with Iran. Its elevation is 1625m and its area is 2,383 km². Doğubayazıt's population in 2010 was 115 ...

Ağrı Ağrı ( ku, Agirî; ) is the capital of Ağrı Province in eastern Turkey, near the border with Iran. Formerly known as Karaköse ( ku, Qerekose) from the early Turkish republican period until 1946, and before that as Karakilise ( ota, قره‌� ...

, in 1911. His parents divorced in 1929. He had seven siblings. He graduated from

Istanbul High School Istanbul High School ( tr, İstanbul Lisesi, german: Istanbuler Gymnasium), also commonly known as Istanbul Boys' High School ( tr, İstanbul Erkek Lisesi, abbreviated İEL), is one of the oldest and internationally renowned high schools of Turkey ...

in 1928 and received a degree in law from

Istanbul University , image = Istanbul_University_logo.svg , image_size = 200px , latin_name = Universitas Istanbulensis , motto = tr, Tarihten Geleceğe Bilim Köprüsü , mottoeng = Science Bridge from Past to the Future , established = 1453 1846 1933 ...

in 1934. During his studies at Istanbul University he also took courses in French and Greek languages.

Career and arrest

Yardımcı started his career working as a clerk at the Istanbul Courthouse. Then he worked as a lawyer and a journalist. He joined the Democrat Party. He was a member of the

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

and represented

in the legislatures of the 9th, 10th and 11th between 1950 and 1960. He also served as the deputy speaker of the Parliament. He was appointed minister of state to the 20th cabinet and 22nd cabinet. His first term in office was between 8 April 1953 and 17 May 1954, and the second was from 9 December 1955 to 15 November 1957. In the 21st cabinet and 23rd cabinet he was the minister of education. Yardımcı served in the post from 17 May 1954 to 9 December 1955 and from 25 November 1957 to 22 May 1959. During his first term as the education minister Maarif Colleges were launched in 1955. These schools were one of the consequences of the improved relations between Turkey and the United States and provided English and Turkish courses. In the 23rd cabinet he served as the minister of justice between 3 April and 27 May 1960. All of these cabinets were led by Prime Minister

Adnan Menderes Adnan Menderes (; 1899 – 17 September 1961) was a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister of Turkey between 1950 and 1960. He was one of the founders of the Democrat Party (DP) in 1946, the fourth legal opposition party of Turkey. He ...

. Yardımcı was serving as the minister of justice when a military coup occurred on 27 May 1960. Immediately after the coup he was arrested and tried at the Yassıada court and sentenced to life imprisonment. During the trials lasted between 14 October 1960 and 15 September 1961 his lawyer was his sister, Mesude Varol. In the Yassıada prison he stayed in the same room with

Fatin Rüştü Zorlu Fatin Rüştü Zorlu (20 April 1910 – 16 September 1961) was a Turkish diplomat and politician. He was executed by hanging after the coup d'état in 1960 along with two other politicians. Early life and education He was born on 20 Apri ...

who was the

minister of foreign affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between cou ...

in the Menderes cabinets. Zorlu would be executed immediately after the trials on 16 September. Yardımcı was first jailed in Kayseri and then in Istanbul and Ankara. He was released from the prison in January 1965 when he was pardoned by the President

Cemal Gürsel Cemal Gürsel (; 13 October 1895 – 14 September 1966) was a Turkish army general who became the List of Presidents of Turkey, fourth President of Turkey after a coup. Early life He was born in the city of Erzurum as the son of an Ottoman A ...

due to his health problems. Then he worked as a lawyer. When former DP politicians were permitted to join political parties in 1975 Yardımcı became a member of the Justice Party headed by

Süleyman Demirel Süleyman Sami Demirel (; 1 November 1924 – 17 June 2015) was a Turkish people, Turkish politician, engineer, and statesman who served as the List of Presidents of Turkey, 9th President of Turkey from 1993 to 2000. He previously served as the ...

and was elected as a deputy from Istanbul serving in the 16th legislature.

Personal life and death

Yardımcı was married to Harika Yardımcı and had two children. He died in Istanbul on 10 January 1986 and was buried in Zincirlikuyu cemetery.

References