Ahmet Mükerrem Sarol (1909–1995) was a physician and politician born in Tripoli. He specialized in gynecology, worked for many years in the health sector, and later took on active political roles within the Democrat Party, serving as a member of parliament for Istanbul and Edirne. From 1954 to 1955 he served as Minister of State responsible for press and broadcasting, and after the 1960 coup he was tried on Yassıada and sentenced to imprisonment.

Early Life and Education

Ahmet Mükerrem Sarol was born in 1909 in Tripoli to Osman Nuri Bey and Zehra Hanım. He completed his primary and secondary education in various cities across Turkey. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at Istanbul University in 1933 and began his service in Sorgun the same year. In 1934 he undertook specialization in gynecology at the Faculty of Medicine of Hamburg University in Germany. He returned to Turkey in 1938.

Professional Career

Sarol worked as a gynecology specialist at Yozgat Memleket Hospital. After completing his military service in 1940, he was appointed to Aydın State Hospital. During World War II he served as a physician in various military units. Following his tenure in public hospitals until 1945, he began practicing as a private physician. In the 1950s he engaged in press activities through the newspaper Türk Sesi, which he owned.

Political Life

Ahmet Mükerrem Sarol began his political career in 1946 by establishing the Aydın branch of the Democrat Party. He served as a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey for Istanbul in the 9th term and for Edirne in the 11th term. He held positions on the Health and Social Assistance Committee and the Budget Committee, and delivered speeches in parliament on issues including education, health, constitutional interpretation, and foreign policy.

He was appointed Minister of State in 1954, where he carried out reforms related to press and broadcasting policies and held this position until 1955. By the end of that year he had become a target of internal party opposition and was temporarily expelled from the party for one year by the High Honor Court. He returned to parliament in 1957 as a member for Edirne and continued in this role until 1960.

Yassıada Trial and Later Life

Following the military coup of 27 May 1960, he was arrested. He was tried on Yassıada under charges of violating the constitution and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. Due to health reasons he was released in 1965. Although he joined the Justice Party in 1975, he did not engage in active politics. He died on 8 November 1995 and was buried at Feriköy Cemetery.

Publications and Media Activities

Sarol published a two-volume memoir titled Bilinmeyen Menderes, in which he compiled his impressions of Turkish political life. He was also active in the press and broadcasting field as the owner of the newspaper Türk Sesi.