Today in History – 16 April

The Mufti of Ankara supports the National Struggle

At the beginning of the War of Independence, a fatwa war transpired between the clergy in İstanbul and Anatolia. Upon the fatwa Sheikh-ul Islam Dürrizade Abdullah Efendi issued calling for the death of Mustafa Kemal and other Kuvayi Milliye proponents participating in the National Struggle, the Mufti of Ankara Rifat Efendi (Börekçi) released an opposing fatwa on April 16, 1920 to urge the public to support the national resistance. Clearly stating that untrue and unsubstantiated fatwas were not considered legal per Sharia law, the fatwa of Rifat Efendi was supported by 153 muftis and other clergy across Anatolia and was published by a number of newspapers.

Appointed as the first Director of Religious Affairs in Turkey in 1924, Rifat Efendi held this position until his death on March 5, 1941.