[[Image:Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 1919 Sivas Congress (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Atatürk]]
'''Mustafa Kemal Atatürk''' (1881 – 1938), also known as '''Kamâl Atatürk''', was a general ("pasha") who serving Ottoman Army during [[World War I]], and a statesman who founder of founded the Republic of [[Turkey]]. He was a successful division commander in the [[Battle of Gallipoli]]. The [[Allies]] defeated the [[Ottoman Empire]] and arranged for its partition. Thereupon, after a few congresses, he led a organized political resistance in the [[Turkish War of Independence]] by established a new assembly and government in Ankara. From Sep 9, 1923 to Nov 10, 1938, he was also leader of the Republican People's Party.
Atatürk deposed the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in 1922 and became first President of Turkey in 1923. It is estimated that over 99% of Turks are [[Muslim]] (and most of them are conservative), but Atatürk established a [[secular]] rule based on a strong military. He abolished [[sharia law]] 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.