Request Of Karaman Central Cleric Ahmet Neşet Efendi For The Medal Of Independence And Decision Given By The Competent Authorities

All people of the society have supported the National Struggle. The reverends in this struggle have an additional significance. One of these reverends who supported the National Struggle was Ahmet Neşet Efendi who was Karaman Central Cleric. Ahmet Neşet Efendi served both civilian population and soldiers during the years of National Struggle. He encouraged them for struggle. He preached to civilian population and to soldiers of Depo Regiment in the Attariye Mosque, who is in the centre of Karaman and which is still open for worship. He tried to raise their preaching spirituality in this way. These activities have an impact on both the military and the public. We can understand this from the official documents given to him. One of the features that make Ahmet Neşet Efendi different is that he complied with the Hat Law, who was issued in November 1926. He set an example to the public by wearing a fedora. Many reverends reacted against the hat but Ahmet Neşet’s behavior was important for the peace of society. Neşet Efendi requested a Medal of Independence for his services in Karaman as well as in the early years of the Republic and the National Struggle. He made the first reference in 1926 and the second in 1932. As the first reference was unable, he made the second. He added to his second letter of application the previously rewarded documents and sent them to the Office of the Prime Minister. Also he requested the Prime Ministry to give back his previously rewarded documents if they legally can’t give him a Medal of Independence. In this article, Medal of Independence will be advertised, the role of reverends in the National Struggle will be mentioned, the request of Ahmet Neşet Efendi, correspondence and the process related to this event will be held.

Keywords

Ahmet Neşet Efendi, Karaman, Religious men in the National Struggle, Medal of Independence.