The Role of religious activity and propaganda in civil outbreaks during the Turkish National Struggle for independence

Having been defeated in the First World War, The Ottoman Empire was occupied by the Entente Powers after the conclusion of Montreaux Truce. The appresssion, that had been especially on the muslims in the Western Anatolia, prepared the ground for the National Movement. The People of Anatolia, who win the National Struggle for Independence under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK, accomplished to establish the Republic of Turkey. Therefore the National Struggle, which had been an Independence War Worth dying far, had also been a basis for foundadition of a new state. The forces (Sultan-Khalife, Government of Istanbul and Entente Powers) against the National Movement started an explaition of Religion in order to corrupt the National Movement. The most important instrument in this process was the religious decleration (Fatwa) urged by British that required the assassination of the leaders of the National Movement, and that spurred the rebellious movements in Anatolia. On the other hand the members of religious class with common sense, who supported the National Movement, gave a counter-decleration which provided the legitimacy of the National Movement. Therefore, there came out a "Battle of the Religious Declerations". Despite the fact that religion itself and the religious institutions play a unifying role for the National Movement during the National Struggle Period, someties they function as a separatist during the times when ignorance reign over the society and the revelations are misinterpreted.