Ahmet Mükerrem Sarol (1909-1995)

Ahmet Mükerrem Sarol was born in 1909 in Tripoli, a city under the Ottoman Empire, as the child of a military commander. His childhood passed in Iskenderun under the nightmare-filled days of World War I, one of the devastating wars of modern history that claimed millions of lives. In the early years of the newly established Republic of Turkey, following the War of Independence of the six century old, theocratic, and monarchical Ottoman Empire, he graduated from Kuleli Military High School. After completing his education at Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Mükerrem Sarol specialized in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Hamburg Faculty of Medicine. Upon returning to Turkey, his appointment at Aydın State Hospital led to the beginning of his political career through his acquaintance with Adnan Menderes. Contributing to the establishment of the Democrat Party, which left its mark on an era, Mükerrem Sarol played a significant role in bringing his party to power during Turkey's transition to a multi-party political system, shaping the country's democratization process between 1946 and 1960. Serving as a member of parliament and minister in the governments formed by the party, which held power for three consecutive terms with election records that remain unbroken, he supported Prime Minister Adnan Menderes during his most tumultuous days with a formula later named after him, keeping Menderes in politics. His close working relationship with Adnan Menderes defined the trajectory of his political career. Ironically, the path he walked with his comrade under the Democrat Party's umbrella ended at the doorstep of another trial through an undemocratic move.