Was Mustafa Kemal Ataturk a Freemason?

Answer 1

The question about whether Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was a Freemason is hotly debated. There are strong views both for and against this proposition. Both sides of the debate have been represented.

He Was a Freemason

Kemal Ataturk was initiated into Lodge Veritas, under a charter from the French Grand Orient, in 1907. So, yes, he was a Freemason.

According to Andrew Mango, in his biography: "Ataturk: The Biography of the founder of Modern Turkey", Ataturk was a Freemason, although Mango was uncertain as to whether or not Ataturk was initiated in Thessaloniki (where he was born and grew up) or in Istanbul (where much of his early political life happened).

Currently, Turkish Islamists who wish to oppose Ataturk's reforms have taken two avenues to dismiss Ataturk's secularization of the country. One is to play up Ataturk's Freemasonry and to also insist that he is a Jew and bent on creating some global conspiracy. However, since Ataturk is so beloved in Turkey, directly attacking him does not go over well. It is far better to deny Ataturk's Masonic heritage and pretend that he persecuted the Masons, in line with general Turkish feelings on the matter. Harun Yahya, among others, have promoted the latter approach.

He Was Not a Freemason

No, there is no credible evidence of it. Some sources, like Andrew Mango's biography of Ataturk, say there is a lot we don't know about his life, but most of the information that claims he was a Freemason relies on subjective opinions, rather than historical facts.

As additional information is that he closed Masonry Charity at 1925 and again all in Turkey at 1935, never again opened until he was died.