Negara dan agama dalam pandangan Mustafa Kemal

Mustafa Kemal is a controversial Turkey's modernist. He is known as the founder of Modem Republic of Turkey based on new political vision after the fall of Usmani Emperor. In founding a modem state, he tried to separate religion from politics. This is underlain by the historical experience that religion often hindered modernization efforts and progress, because it was abused by the power holders. The separation of religion from state affairs was not intended to eliminate Islam from Turkey but to minimize the role of ulama who were incapable of giving security and pride to Turkey nation. In Kemal's view, Islam is a rational religion, but its rationality was destroyed and abused. Therefore, religion should be reinterpreted so that it becomes the source of enlightening and capable of freeing the nation from ignorance.