ABOUT ASA

Founded 1995 in Washington DC, the Atatürk Society of America (ASA) is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, dedicated to promoting the ideals of Atatürk.

ASA understands Atatürk's political philosophy to be:

• Sovereignty belongs to the people.
• Public sovereignty cannot be shared with any other authority, including religious authority.
• Secular education ensures public sovereignty and rationality in governance.
• Secularism is essential to avoid the influence of any religion on state affairs.
• For progress to be achieved, superstition and dogma must always yield to science and reason.
• Freedom and the pursuit of happiness are common aspirations of humanity.
• Representative democracy prevents abuse of power by incorporating a system of checks and balances through a constitution that includes a three-part separation of powers among a legislature, executive, and judiciary.
• Ataturk's noble principle, "Peace at home and peace in the world," is crucial to maintaining the common good of humankind.

ASA organizes meetings and scholarly lectures, provides research fellowships, and serves as a resource for material regarding Atatürk's political philosophy. It also publishes the periodical, Voice of Atatürk, a photo journal with historical and political stories pertaining to Ataturk. On two dates approximately six months apart, May 19 and November 10, members meet in Washington, DC.

NEWS

Battle of Gallipoli (Çanakkale Zaferi) Celebration
SAVE THE DATE!

April 26th, 2015
2:30pm - 5pm
American University, Washington DC

Keynote Speech and Tales of Battles through Postcards by Prof. Dr. KEMAL ARI
Head of Izmir 9 Eylul University, Ataturk Institute

Please join us. Open to the Public.
More details to follow...

Guarding Atatürk’s Legacy
Having spent the first half of his adult life fighting invading armies and proving his invincibility as a military leader, Kemal Atatürk spent the second half creating the modern Republic of Turkey and demonstrating his extraordinary brilliance. His reforms called for governing by reason and science rather than superstition and dogma, a secular and a civilized society with social and gender equality and with freedom of thought, speech and of the press.
76 years after Atatürk’s death, as we mourn him, we are forever in debt for his gifts; the Turkish motherland and her sovereignty and reforms which enable her citizens to live in a civilized manner.
Read more details and keynote speech of this event

Looking West: Atatürk and the Creation of Modern Turkey
On Tuesday March 31, Dr. Bülent Atalay, President of the Atatürk Society of America, is scheduled to give a talk, “Looking West: Atatürk and the Creation of Modern Turkey,” at Washington’s renowned Smithsonian Institution. This enlightening program is described at Smithsonian Resident Associates Program. Six weeks before the event, tickets for Professor Atalay’s lecture are already sold out. Those wishing to attend may call (202) 633-3030 to be placed on the waiting list,and as the list grows, the Smithsonian will move the talk to a larger auditorium to also accommodate those on the waiting list.

Youth Recognized at May 19 Event in Washington, DC
This years May 19 - Youth and Sports Day event was opened with a moment of silence for the 302 miners who have lost their lives at the Soma, Turkey mine accident.
The rest of the programme included speeches by the Turkish-American youth, the Founder and President of the Ataturk Society of America. The highlight of the event was the awards ceremony during which Ata Akiner accepted a replica of the book "Nutuk" made by sculptor Jeff Hall on behalf of the youth who have organized many events to defend secularism and promote awareness of current government's attempts to diminish personal freedom, freedom of speech and the press.

First Public Statue of Atatürk in the U.S.A.
The Atatürk Society of America worked feverishly with the unusually talented local sculptor, Jeffery Hall, to produce a full-size bronze statue of Kemal Atatürk. The statue was unveiled on November 10th, 2013 at the Sheridan Circle, Washington, DC. The statue is the first public monument in the United States honoring one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. Read full story behind the making of the Ataturk's statue...

Visit by Honorable Ince, CHP
May 19, Commemoration of Atatürk and the Youth Day celebration was enthusiastically attended by a large crowd at The Cosmos Club in Washington, DC. on May 24, 2013
Hon. Ince, Member of Parliament (CHP) was the keynote speaker. You may read about the highlights of his speech at the following websites:
Hurriyet Gazetesi
Star Gundem Gazetesi
Vatan Gazetesi
Sabah Gazetesi