Mustafa Necati facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mustafa Necati
Minister of Exchange Construction and Settlement
In office 30 October 1923 – 6 March 1924
Prime Minister	İsmet İnönü
Succeeded by	Celal Bayar
Ministry of Justice
In office 6 March 1924 – 22 November 1924
Prime Minister	İsmet İnönü
Preceded by	Seyit Bey
Succeeded by	Mahmut Esat Bozkurt
Ministry of National Education
In office 21 December 1925 – 1 January 1929
Prime Minister	İsmet İnönü
Preceded by	Hamdullah Suphi Tanrıöver
Personal details
Born	1894 İzmir, Ottoman Empire
Died	1 January 1929 Ankara, Turkey
Nationality	Turkish
Political party	Republican People's Party
Education	Law
Alma mater	Law School, Istanbul University
Occupation	Politician, civil servant
Known for	Population exchange between Greece and Turkey Nation's schools

Mustafa Necati, also known as Mustafa Necati Uğural (born 1894, died January 1, 1929), was an important Turkish leader. He played a big role in the early years of the Turkish Republic. He was the Minister of National Education during a time of major changes in Turkey. He passed away before the law about surnames was made. So, the name Uğural was actually chosen by his family after he died.

Mustafa Necati's Early Life

Mustafa Necati was born in 1894 in İzmir. His father was Halit and his mother was Naciye. He finished his first schools in İzmir. Then, he went to Istanbul for higher education. He studied law there.

In 1914, he returned to İzmir. He started working as a lawyer and a teacher. In 1915, he opened a private school with his friend Vasıf Çınar. He also gave legal advice to a local railway company.

After First World War, the Ottoman Empire lost the war. The winning countries, called the Allies, fired the railway workers. Mustafa Necati tried to help these workers. He set up a group to protect their rights. Later, he also helped soldiers who were returning from the war.

When the Greek army took over İzmir, he left. He went to Istanbul and then to Balıkesir. There, he joined the Turkish War of Independence. He even started a newspaper called İzmir'e Doğru ("Towards İzmir"). This newspaper spoke up for Turkish rights against the Greek invasion.

Mustafa Necati: A War of Independence Politician

The Ottoman parliament in Istanbul was closed by the Allies in March 1920. Soon after, the Turkish parliament was created in Ankara in April 1920. Mustafa Necati was chosen as a member of parliament for Saruhan (now Manisa).

During 1920-1922, he spent most of his time outside Ankara. He was part of the Independence Tribunals. These were special courts set up during the war. He worked in Sivas and then Kastamonu. Finally, he became the head of the Amasya Independence Tribunal.

Mustafa Necati's Role in the Turkish Republic

The Turkish Republic was officially started on October 29, 1923. Right away, Mustafa Necati became a minister in İsmet İnönü’s governments. His first job was Minister of Exchange Construction and Settlement. This was a very important role. He was in charge of the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey. This was when many people moved between Greece and Turkey.

In the next government, he became the Minister of Justice. But his most important job was as Minister of National Education. He got this role in a later government. As the education minister, he suggested a new law in March 1926. This law led to the creation of the Language Council. He stayed in this job until he passed away.

Nation's Schools and the New Turkish Alphabet

Before 1928, the Arabic script was used in Turkey. But the Turkish language has many vowel sounds. The Arabic script could not show all these sounds well. However, because it was the script of the Quran, many thought it could not be changed.

But President Atatürk decided to use the Latin alphabet. He made a few small changes to it for Turkish. He also wanted this change to happen very quickly. Besides teaching the Latin alphabet in schools, short courses were set up for adults. These were called Nation's schools (Turkish: Millet Mektebi).

As the Minister of National Education, Mustafa Necati was in charge of starting these courses. The courses were very successful. Necati is now seen as one of the key people who brought in the new Turkish alphabet.

Mustafa Necati's Passing

Mustafa Necati died on January 1, 1929. He passed away because of appendicitis. This was the very same day the Nation's Schools officially opened. The next day, he was buried in Cebeci Asri Cemetery in Ankara.

Mustafa Necati's House and Legacy

In 2006, there was a discussion about Mustafa Necati’s house in Ankara. It was a three-story building. There were plans to give it to a restaurant company. This caused many protests. After a lot of debate, the Turkish parliament decided in 2008. They chose to turn the house into a cultural center for members of parliament.

Mustafa Necati in Sports

Mustafa Necati was also interested in sports. He was one of the people who helped start the Altay sports club in 1914.