Turkish Ambassador Tuba Nur Sönmez published a letter in Arab Times on June 20, 2026, countering what she called delusional accusations against Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in an editorial by editor-in-chief Ahmed Al Jarallah that appeared two days earlier in both Arab Times and Al Seyassah. Sönmez highlighted Atatürk’s establishment of the Diyanet in 1924 to fund mosques and imams, rejecting claims of hostility toward Islam while noting his 1981 global centennial proclaimed by the UN and UNESCO for promoting peace.
In the letter, Sönmez argued that portraying Atatürk as defined by animosity toward Islam contradicts the factual reality of his reforms. The ambassador explained that far from marginalizing faith, Atatürk’s administration structured and supported it through institutional means. According to Sönmez, the state took responsibility for funding mosques, paying salaries of imams and ensuring religious services were available nationwide. She added that Atatürk dismantled institutions viewed as obstacles to intellectual liberation rather than closing mosques outright.
Sönmez quoted Atatürk’s 1923 Balikesir speech as saying, “Our religion is the most reasonable and natural religion. For a religion to be natural, it must agree with reason, science, knowledge, and logic.” The ambassador noted that Atatürk saw stagnation of religious thought, not the faith itself, as the enemy to progress. He commissioned and funded the first comprehensive Turkish translation and commentary of the Holy Qur’an and Hadiths to enable citizens to engage with their religion intellectually.
The letter further asserted that Atatürk’s reforms modernized the place of Islam within a contemporary society, leaving a republic where patriotism, intellectual freedom, scientific advancement and faith could coexist. Objective documentation of these contributions is preserved in historical archives, Sönmez wrote. A UNESCO resolution from 1981 described Atatürk as a leader who worked for understanding and cooperation between nations, international peace and respect for human rights.
Sönmez also corrected certain factual inaccuracies in the original editorial, noting that Mehmet I, also known as Çelebi Mehmet, is widely regarded as the second founder of the Ottoman State rather than Murad IV. She described Murad IV’s reign as a period of state re-consolidation that restored internal coherence to the Ottoman polity. The ambassador suggested that departing from clichés in favor of sound scholarship would prove more instructive.
According to the ambassador, a review of archives showed that Al Jarallah had advanced views six years ago that directly contradict those in the June 18 piece. Sönmez invited the editor to adopt a more consistent approach grounded in factual and historical foundations. She requested the publication of her letter in the spirit of journalistic objectivity to provide readers with a balanced perspective.
A Cambridge University Press chapter on Turkish secularism states that the Diyanet was created in 1924 following the abolition of the Ministry of Islamic Law to manage Sunni religious services within the new republican framework. The ambassador’s letter aligns with this historical context by emphasizing the supportive role of the institution. Sönmez concluded by calling for accurate reporting that avoids narratives detached from documented realities.
