Mehmet Rifat Börekçi

Mehmet Rifat Börekçi (born; Mehmet Rifat Efendi; 29 November 18605 March 1941) was a Turkish Islamic scholar and politician who served as the first president of the Presidency of Religious Affairs from 1924 to 1941. He also served as a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in the first parliament following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. However, he resigned as a member of parliament after six months on 27 October 1920 and preferred his duties as a mufti.

Early life and education

Börekçi was born on 29 November 1860, in Ankara, corresponding to the 15th of the fifth lunar month in 1277 in the Islamic calendar. He was the son of Ali Kazım Efendi, a religious scholar, and Habibe Hanım. He obtained his primary and secondary education in his home town. He studied in Arabic and Islamic sciences at Beyazıd Dersiâms under the tutelage of Atıf Efendi, a mudarris (a teacher who gave lessons in mosques or madrasas) in Istanbul, and received his licence/authentication (ijazah) from him.

After completing his education, he began his career in public service when he held his first official position at the Fazliye Madrasa in February 1890, where he taught students until his appointment to the Ankara Court of Appeals on 10 October 1898. He served as a member in the Court of Appeals until March 1907. Following this role, he became the mufti of Ankara on 25 November 1908. In 1911, he briefly served as the acting district governor of Sivrihisar.

Role in Independence movement

At the onset of the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923), Börekçi founded a nationwide resistance organization, Ankara Defense of Rights Society on 29 October 1919 and became its president. The organisation worked to unite religious leaders and the local population in support of the nationalist movement. His collaboration with Mustafa Kemal Pasha included both moral and material support during the early stages of the movement, particularly after the signing of the Treaty of Sèvres in August 1920, which created occupation zones within the Ottoman Empire.

In early 1920, Börekçi issued a counter-fatwa in response to a fatwa issued by Sheikhulislam Dürrizade, the Ottoman sultan, which declared the nationalists to be rebels. Alongside other religious scholars in Ankara, he argued that resistance against foreign occupation was justified and necessary, providing religious legitimacy to the nationalist cause. This counter-fatwa is considered an important factor in garnering broader support for the nationalist movement.

Following his role in resistance movement, the Istanbul Ottoman government dismissed Börekçi in 1920 from his position as mufti and sentenced him to death. However, the Ankara government, led by Mustafa Kemal Pasha, reinstated him as mufti, citing his ongoing influence within the nationalist ranks. Börekçi continued to support the movement until the Turkish victory in 1922, which led to the eventual establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. Following the war, he was appointed as the first president of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet).

Political career

Börekçi served as a member of parliament for Muğla in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) for six months. However, he preferred his duties as mufti and resigned from his parliamentary position on 27 October 1920. Between 23 December 1922, and 30 March 1924, he was a member of the Ministry of Sharia Affairs and Foundations (Şeriye ve Evkaf Vekaleti).

On 4 April 1924, Börekçi was appointed as the first president of the Presidency of Religious Affairs, a position he held until his death on 5 March 1941. He contributed to the establishment of organizational structure of the Religious Affairs in the early years of Turkey.

Death

He died on 5 March 1941 in Ankara. He is buried in Cebeci Asri Cemetery.

References

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1860 births
1941 deaths
Presidents of Religious Affairs of Turkey
Politicians from Ankara
Members of the 1st Parliament of Turkey