Life and political activities of Dr. Abdurrahman Melek, the Prime Minister of State of Hatay

Abdurrahman Melek was born in Antakya in 1896. He completed his primary education (Sıbyan Mektebi and Rüştiye) in Antakya and high school (Halep Sultanisi) in Aleppo. He started medicine education in Damascus Medicine School (Şam Mekteb-i Tıbbiye-i Mülkiyesi). In 1914, he opened the "Turkish Hearth" (Türk Ocağı) branch in Antakya. He did his military service under the conditions of the 1st World war at 41st Division. During this term, as the Damascus Medicine School was closed his studentship was transferred to İstanbul School of Medicine (Darülfünun Tıp Fakültesi) and he was graduated in 1919. Abdurrahman Melek's first employment was assistant at İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine. He returned to Antakya in 1923 and hung out his shingle. In his political career melek firstly was elected as an administrator to Sanjak of İskenderun. He attended to the negotiations of Hatay, which was performed in Geneva, as an observer. In 1938 he served as the governor of the Sanjak of İskenderun and shortly afterwards as the prime minister of Hatay state. From 1939 onwards, he served as a member of the Turkish Grand Assembly for four terms. In 1947-48, He took part in the group called "Thirty Fives" (Otuzbeşler) in Turkish politics. During his years as a deputy, he served on the inter-parliamentary committee. He is a founding member of Demirtepe People's Consumption Cooperative in 1942. He was elected as the Central Board Member of the Turkish Aeronautical Association in 1952. He retired after serving as a Member of the Central Bank's Board of Directors between 1955 and 1961. He was a candidate from the CHP in the 1961 Republic Senate elections. After his retirement, he lived in Istanbul in the summer and Ankara in the winter until his death. His memories were published by the Turkish Historical Society in 1966. Abdurrahman Melek passed away on Friday, January 13, 1978 at his house in İnkılap Sokak in Ankara. His body was buried in Karşıyaka Cemetery after the ceremony held in front of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. After his death, his name was given to a street in Antakya.