İbrahim Kafesoğlu

İbrahim Kafesoğlu (1914–1984) was a Turkish historian and academic who is known for his role in the development of the Turkish–Islamic synthesis. He was a faculty member of Istanbul University and Atatürk University. He cofounded the conservative think thank Intellectuals' Hearth and was its president from 1970 and 1974.

Early life and education He was born in Tefenni, Burdur, in January 1914. His father was killed in the East front in World War I. After working at Ankara University for a brief period he continued his studies at Istanbul University where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1949. He was succeeded by Süleyman Yalçın in the post. He contributed a nationalist conservative magazine entitled Turkish Culture and shaped its ideology. For him Islam is a matter of conscience and does not a political or legal system. For Kafesoğlu "Turkish nationalism is not racism, but it is not about a religious cause either." He also developed a definition of intellectuals stating "Obviously, we do not regard those who turn their backs to liberty and scorn national mores as intellectuals."

Personal life and death Kafesoğlu married Müzeyyen Hanım in 1946 and had three children from this marriage. He was fluent in Hungarian, English, French, German, Persian and Arabic.

Kafesoğlu died in Istanbul on 18 August 1984 and was buried in Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery.