Atıf Kamçıl

Atıf Kamçıl, also known as Atif Bey, Atif Efendi (1880–1947) was an Ottoman revolutionary and Turkish politician.

Biography

Young Turk Revolution and assassination of Shemsi Pasha On 3 July 1908 Adjutant Major Ahmed Niyazi Bey deserted the Ottoman army fled into the mountains with a guerilla band and initiated the Young Turk Revolution calling for the restoration of the constitution of 1876. By 7 July, General Shemsi Pasha with one unit of volunteers and two army battalions reached Monastir (modern Bitola) by train and was tasked by Ottoman authorities to end the Young Turk (CUP) rebellion.

During his stopover in Monastir Shemsi telegraphed the palace regarding military operations. The Albanian bodyguards of Shemsi had been swayed by the CUP to their side that during the incident they only shot their firearms into the air, did not chase after Kamçıl and later fled from the scene themselves. The CUP gained a major advantage in the conflict as the assassination galvanised people to their cause. Facing a deteriorating situation in the Balkans on July 24 sultan Abdul Hamid II restored the constitution of 1876.

Post revolution Following the revolution individuals like Kamçıl involved in assassinations went unpunished by the CUP and instead they were hailed as heroes and given important positions within the state. Kamçıl became a deputy in the Ottoman Parliament representing Siirt and also the first director of the Ottoman State Tobacco Monopoly based in Çankırı. On postcards Atıf Bey appears in an image alongside Adem Bey and Çerçiz Topulli symbolising the cooperation of different communal groups of people involved in the revolution.

Later with the establishment of the Turkish Republic Kamçıl served in the National Assembly as a deputy representing Çanakkale.