Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
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Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938) was the military founder of modern Turkey, and its first president. He was a successful division commander in the Battle of Gallipoli. When the Allies defeated the Ottoman Empire and arranged for its partition, he led a rebellion in the Turkish War of Independence.
Kemal deposed the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire in 1922 and became president of Turkey in 1923. It is estimated that over 99% of Turks are Muslim [1], but Kemal established a secular rule based on a strong military. He abolished Islamic courts and gave women the right to vote and hold government positions. As a result of his efforts, Turkey is the only Muslim country to independently hold democratic elections.