Former Minister of Culture and National Education Hüseyin Çelik came to the public agenda again due to his implicit "shady" evaluation regarding the July 15 coup attempt. While AK Party Bursa Deputy Mustafa Varank reacted harshly to Çelik's statements, after the incident, the public began to re-investigate Hüseyin Çelik's political past, which parties he served in and what he is doing today. So, who is Hüseyin Çelik, which party is he from? Where is Hüseyin Çelik now, what is he doing? Detail...
Hüseyin Çelik was born on March 5, 1959 in Gürpınar district of Van. His mother is of Kurdish origin and his father is of Arab origin. After completing his primary and secondary education, he graduated from Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Turkish Language and Literature in 1983.
After his graduation, Çelik started his academic career as a research assistant at Yüzüncü Yıl University, and later transferred to the staff of Istanbul University. He conducted doctoral research on the Young Turks in England between 1988 and 1991. During the same period, he continued his master's degree in Turkish politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
Çelik, who carried out various academic studies in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France within the scope of his doctoral research, completed his doctoral thesis titled "Ali Suavi and His Period". He received the title of assistant professor in 1992 and associate professor in 1997.
Hüseyin Çelik, who served as a lecturer and department head at Yüzüncü Yıl University, authored many academic and popular works published in the fields of Turkish culture, political history and literature. Çelik, who speaks English and Kurdish at an advanced level, is married and has three children.
In addition to his academic activities, he is also known for the works he wrote on Turkish political history, Ottoman intellectual life and cultural issues. His books published to date include activities such as "Ali Suavi", "Ali Suavi and His Period", "Türkiye's Armenian Problem", "A Period Passed Like This" and "Şinasi".
Hüseyin Çelik's political life began under the umbrella of the True Path Party (DYP).
Çelik, who was elected as a Van Deputy from DYP in the 1999 general elections, served in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. During his first term as a Member of Parliament, he was a member of the Presidential Council of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Hüseyin Çelik, who resigned from the True Path Party on July 3, 2001, was among the founding staff of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which was established shortly afterwards. After the AK Party formed a group in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, he served as Deputy Group Chairman.
Çelik, who was re-elected as a Van Deputy from the AK Party in the 2002 general elections, took part in the cabinet as the Minister of Culture in the 58th Government.
He served as the Minister of National Education in the 59th and 60th AK Party governments that were established later. He carried out important activities during his tenure on many topics such as education policies, curriculum regulations and teacher appointments.
22nd and 23rd Term AK Party Van Deputy,
24th Term AK Party Gaziantep Deputy,
The reason why it has come to the fore again in recent days is its evaluations regarding the July 15 coup attempt. While Çelik's statements had a wide impact in the public, AK Party Bursa Deputy Mustafa Varank reacted harshly to his statements.
Hüseyin Çelik continues his academic and intellectual activities after his active parliamentary and ministerial duties.
Çelik, the former Minister of Culture and National Education, evaluates current political, educational and social issues in various television programs, interviews and media platforms.
In addition, Hüseyin Çelik, who continues his academic activities as a faculty member, serves as the Chairman of the Hece Foundation Board of Directors. He takes part in activities related to culture, education and intellectual life within the Foundation, and meets the public as a speaker at conferences and various events.