Kadir Mısıroğlu (1933–2019) was a Turkish writer, publisher and conspiracy theorist. He was known for his staunch opposition to the
early Kemalist regime of
Turkey and advocating the restoration of the
caliphate. Mısıroğlu's claims include that
Joseph Stalin ordered his army to read the
Quran on the sands against the Nazis,
William Shakespeare being a secret Muslim, and that Karl Marx's Das Kapital was dictated by
Jinn. He penned over 50 books, which include non-fiction, fiction, and poems. His works have been criticized for their approach, awareness and bias.
Biography
Mısıroğlu was born in
Akçaabat in the
Trabzon Province. During his time at Istanbul University in the 1950s,[1] he became the president of the Trabzon Highschool Graduates Association in his sophomore year, and opened seven student dormitories.[1] He married Aynur Aydınaslan in 1961 and had three children: Abdullah Sünusi (1963), Fatıma Mehlika (1965), and Mehmed Selman (1973).[1]
In 1964, he founded the publishing house Sebil and then the magazine named Sebil in 1976.[2] He wrote over 50 books.[3][4] Also in 1964, he reached fame through his book Lausanne, Victory or Defeat? (Lozan Zafer mi, Hezimet mi?).[5][6][7]
Following multiple stays for a year and a half at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital for diabetes, he died on 5 May 2019 due to multiple-organ failure.[9][10][11][12][13][14] His funeral was held at
Çamlıca Mosque where a huge crowd of tens of thousands was in attendance.[15][16][17] He was interred in the cemetery of the Nasuhi dergah and mosque at
Üsküdar, Istanbul.[18]
Beliefs
Mısıroğlu has been described as a conspiracy theorist.[19][20] He was known for his outspoken stance against
Atatürk's reforms and
Kemalism,[21][10] and identified as an apologist of
Islamism and
Pan-Islamism.[22] He argued that the
caliphate could be even restored under a
U.S.-backed caliph, and said that an American delegation met with him on this topic during the presidency of
Bill Clinton.[23]
He supported
Fethullah Gülen and
his movement, believing that if they organized in Europe for an Islamist agenda, they would focus on the youth.[24] He established a cordial relationship with Gülen.[25] However, then he accused the movement of being business oriented rather than religiously oriented, and Gülen of making false claims, such as the Islamic prophet
Muhammad regularly visiting his
schools.[26]
Mısıroğlu gained infamy with the quote "I wish the Greeks had won",[27] for his resentment against the
early years of the republic, and he continued, "neither the
caliphate nor the
sharia would be abolished!"[27] He also had claimed that
Joseph Stalin ordered his army to read the
Quran on the sands against the
Nazis,[28]William Shakespeare was a secret Muslim whose name was Sheikh Pir,[29] and Karl Marx's Das Kapital was dictated by
demons.[30] His works came under criticism by historian
İlber Ortaylı for lacking scientific approach, knowledge and distorting the facts.[31]
In one his Saturday Conferences, dated 7 May 2016, he said: "I am a
monarchist. I am not a
republican. I said this in 1991, too.
Islam prescribes neither a republic, nor a sultanate. Islam prescribes a spirit. The form of government depends on the circumstances. If you are a small state, you become a republic. If you are a global state, you cannot have a republic."[32]