Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a leader who stands out in contemporary Turkish politics with both his character and political style. He has been shaping the country's destiny as Prime Minister since 2003 and as President of the Republic of Turkey since 2014.
Many contradictory characteristics are concentrated in Erdoğan's personality – on one hand, he is known as a leader close to the people, emphasizing religious and national values, and on the other hand, as a politician who prefers strong control and centralized power.
Erdoğan frequently criticizes opposition parties, Western countries, and the media harshly, which leads his opponents to label him an authoritarian politician.
Changing his position and making tactical maneuvers in various political situations is a characteristic inherent in his politics. This, on one hand, opens new opportunities for him, and on the other hand, draws criticism due to his contradictory stances.
His character, leadership qualities, and personal attributes have been the focus of political analysts for many years.
One of the most striking aspects of Erdoğan's character is his strong leadership ability and determination. The President is capable of making quick decisions in difficult situations and moving forward without backing down. These qualities enable him to remain in power for many years and gain an advantage over his political rivals.
One of Erdoğan's most important political weapons is his ability to communicate directly with the people. His speeches are often emotional and rich in popular language. Erdoğan understands the psychology of the masses well and, stemming from this, always gains support.
Religious and national values also hold an important place in the President's political views and speeches. He frequently emphasizes the moral principles of Islam, while also pursuing policies that defend Turkey's national interests. This earns him the support of the conservative and religiously sensitive electorate.
The lives of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's parents – his father and mother – who played a significant role in the formation of his personality and worldview, are of great interest to many. So, who were they?
Modern.az website, in its section "Leaders' Parents", this time discusses the parents of the Turkish President.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born on February 26, 1954, in the Kasımpaşa district of Istanbul. He was born into a conservative Muslim family.
The President's father, Ahmet Erdoğan, was born in 1903 in the Güneysu district of Rize province. Ahmet Erdoğan, who completed his primary education in Rize, moved to the city of Zonguldak in 1918 and settled with his relatives. After completing his education there, Ahmet Erdoğan found employment.
He married twice. His first marriage took place in 1918. From this marriage, Ahmet Bey had two children, Mehmet (1926-1988) and Hasan (1929-2006).
Ahmet Erdoğan married for the second time in 1947 – to Tenzile Mutlu (Erdoğan), the future president's mother.
In the early 1950s, he moved with his family to the Kasımpaşa district of Istanbul. At that time, this area was known as a place where the working class lived, and values and neighborhood relations were strong.
A. Erdoğan worked as a sea captain in Turkey's Coast Guard Service for many years. According to what has been written about him, his maritime experience and professional discipline also created a spirit of order and principledness in his family.
In 1954, Ahmet Erdoğan's first child, Recep Tayyip, was born from his marriage to Tenzile Hanım, and later two more children, Mustafa (1958) and Vesile (1965), were born into the family.
Ahmet Erdoğan retired in 1968, ending his career in the Coast Guard Service.
He passed away in 1988 at the age of 83 from Alzheimer's disease. A. Erdoğan was buried in the Kulaksız cemetery in Istanbul, but his grave was later relocated (this is mentioned below - author).
In 2016, Captain Ahmet Erdoğan's name was given to an international Imam-Hatip high school opened for boys in Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who attended the opening ceremony, described his father with these words:
“My father, Captain Ahmet Erdoğan, who was a very disciplined and conscientious person, if he were to see such a school bearing his name today, believe me, we would see joy on his face and tears in his eyes. Captain Ahmet Erdoğan, throughout his 85 years of life, with his hard work, honor, faith, dedication to his family, and at the same time, his upright living, is the greatest source of pride for me. My father never bowed down; he walked with his head held high, with an open forehead and a clear face.”
Erdoğan stated that his father Ahmet Erdoğan's youth was filled with struggles and life's whirlwinds; he left his birthplace at an early age and came to Istanbul to build a new life with his family. The President emphasized that he took his father's fighting spirit as an example, saying:
“It is this fighting spirit that paved the way for Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – the son of Captain Ahmet Erdoğan, who grew up in Kasımpaşa, studied at an Imam-Hatip high school, then graduated from Eyüp High School, and subsequently studied at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, possessing nothing but his faith, family, and nation – to become both a mayor, a prime minister, and a president.”
The President said that his father gave him his name. He was named Recep Tayyip because he was born in the month of Recep according to the Hijri calendar, and in honor of his grandfather Tayyip.
The mother of the Turkish President, Tenzile Erdoğan, was born in 1924 in the village of Dumankaya in the Güneysu district of Rize province. She attended primary school in Rize, secondary school in Ankara, and then dropped out of her education at her mother's request. Tenzile Erdoğan moved to Istanbul in 1947. There, she met Ahmet Erdoğan and married him.
Tenzile Erdoğan dedicated a large part of her life to her family; she was known as a simple and devout woman.
After her husband's death, she worked for a while in the women's organization of the Welfare Party.
Tenzile Erdoğan passed away in 2011 at the age of 87 from respiratory failure and an intestinal disease. The deceased was buried in the Karacaahmet cemetery in Istanbul.
It should be noted that at that time, everyone expected the late Tenzile Erdoğan to be laid to rest in the Kulaksız cemetery, where her husband was buried. However, after the funeral prayer performed on October 8, Tenzile Erdoğan's p was buried in the Karacaahmet cemetery.
Her name was given to the Rize Güneysu State Hospital and the Üsküdar Girls' Anatolian Imam-Hatip High School.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan often recalls the care and support his mother showed him and says that it holds an important place in his life.
The President of Turkey stated in his memories about his parents that extravagance was considered unacceptable in their family. Children were encouraged from an early age to work and earn their own living. For example, Recep Tayyip himself financially supported his family by selling simit and water in his childhood.
According to the President, his parents instilled in him devotion to religion, loyalty to the state, and respect for the family structure. Erdoğan's frequent prayers for his mother and his references to his father as an example of discipline and honesty in his public speeches show how important his parents were in his life.
Despite their simple and humble lives, Ahmet and Tenzile Erdoğan raised one of Turkey's most powerful leaders. Their devotion to family and moral values, and their diligence, left deep marks on Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's personal and political life. Even today, the President frequently emphasizes his debt to his parents and commemorates their memory.
While still Prime Minister in 2011, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had his father Ahmet Erdoğan's remains exhumed from Kulaksız cemetery and moved next to his mother's grave in Karacaahmet cemetery. Thus, Tenzile and Ahmet Erdoğan were reunited after 23 years.
In a statement to Beyaz TV, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also described his father as a man of extremely serious character and highly reliable: “My father was very authoritarian. His seriousness greatly helped our upbringing and the formation of our character. If a bad word came out of his mouth, the punishment for it would be very severe.”
According to reports in the Turkish press, like many children, Recep Tayyip was also punished by his father multiple times in his early years.
In response to another question, Erdoğan spoke about the richness of Black Sea cuisine and his mother's exceptional skill. He noted that their home was never without guests, that his father Ahmet Erdoğan would bring guests without warning, that his mother would quickly set the table, and that meals were eaten sitting on the floor from plates.
After completing his secondary education, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pursued higher education at Marmara University's Faculty of Economics and Management.
In his childhood, Erdoğan had a great passion for sports. In 1969, at just 15 years old, he gained professional footballer status. However, as his father did not want his son to engage in this sport, he was forced to play football secretly. Later, he played for the Istanbul municipality team. Recep Tayyip ended his 16-year football career in 1980. From that time onwards, Erdoğan prioritized political activities.
In 1982, he went for military service. After military service, he entered politics with the Welfare Party. He gradually strengthened his position in the party and subsequently was among those elected to the leadership council.
In 1994, he was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul. In his role as mayor, Erdoğan achieved considerable success and gained popularity.
After the government led by Necmettin Erbakan, chairman of the Welfare Party, was forced to resign due to accusations of attempting to establish a religious state in Turkey, R.T. Erdoğan was arrested. He was accused of "inciting hatred and hostility among the people by instilling religious and racial differences" and was imprisoned from March to July 1999.
In August 2001, a new political organization called the Justice and Development Party (AKP) was established in Turkey, and Erdoğan was elected its chairman. The AK Party came in first place in the parliamentary elections held on November 3, 2002. Erdoğan, initially elected as a Member of Parliament, became Prime Minister in 2003.
R.T. Erdoğan was elected President of Turkey in 2014. He also retained the presidency in the elections held in 2018 and 2023.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan married Emine Gülbaran in 1978. The couple has four children (two sons - Ahmet Burak and Necmeddin Bilal; two daughters - Esra and Sümeyye). All of the President's children received higher education in the USA.
Afgan Gafarli
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