Ali Sırrı Özata (1884–1936) held various financial and administrative posts during the Ottoman and Republican periods and served as a member of parliament for Ergani during the First Term of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye. He participated in several parliamentary committees and served as a member of the Pozantı Independence Court. After his term as a deputy ended, he returned to public service and retired in 1932. He was awarded the Independence Medal in 1926.
He was born in 1884 in the Çemişgezek district of Tunceli. His father was Sheikh Halilzâde Hasan Rıza Efendi and his mother was Güllü Hanım. He completed his primary and secondary education in 1901 at the Çemişgezek Rüştiyesi and then pursued six years of religious education. He began his civil service on 27 January 1909 as a clerk in the accounting department of the Birecik Agricultural Bank. Between 1909 and 1919, he served in various roles including director of revenues and tax collector in Çemişgezek, Mazgirt, Ovacık, Siverek, Lice, Derik, Nusaybin, and Çermik. He was dismissed from his post by the Istanbul Government on 25 July 1919. Subsequently, he became active in the Ergani and Elazığ Societies for the Defense of Rights.
Ali Sırrı Özata was elected by 44 votes on 7 July 1920 to fill the parliamentary seat for Ergani vacated by the resignation of Kazım Vehbi Bey. He joined the Grand National Assembly on 16 August 1920. Within the Assembly, he worked in the Petitions, National Education, Health and Social Assistance, Financial Laws, and the Commission for the Examination of Civil Servant Disciplinary Matters.
On 15 December 1920, he was elected as a member of the Pozantı Independence Court, a position he held until its conclusion on 21 February 1921. He then returned to the Assembly to continue his legislative work. During his tenure, he submitted various legislative proposals and motions. He participated in votes concerning the removal of certain articles of Law No. 144 on the Commandership. He was among the proposers of several legislative amendments, including Law No. 315, adopted on 8 March 1923.
Ali Sırrı Özata proposed various administrative reforms, including elevating Palu to the status of a province, changing the central status of Maden, and establishing Silvan and Karaligân as districts. He also submitted petitions to the Assembly requesting the repair of the Murat Bridge in Palu and the improvement of the Çemişgezek–Elazığ road. However, these proposals were not accepted by the Ministry of Public Works, which argued that such matters fell within the jurisdiction of local administrations.
In a 1921–1923 survey conducted by Necmettin Sahir Sılan, when asked what factors contributed to the effectiveness of the War of National Independence, Özata emphasized the importance of maintaining an alliance with the Soviet Union, improving public education, and ensuring that public officials acted with justice.
After his parliamentary term ended, he was appointed as accountant in Siverek on 17 July 1923 and later served as the responsible accountant at the Erzurum Arms Repair Workshop. He retired on 28 July 1932. He continued to live in Istanbul and died on 20 February 1936.
Due to his service on the Pozantı Independence Court, he was awarded the Red-Green Stripe Independence Medal under Grand National Assembly Decision No. 144 dated 22 April 1925. The official certificate for the medal was issued to him on 14 March 1926 under Decision No. 22.43.1340.
Life and Public Service Career
Parliamentary Term in the First Term of the TBMM
Legislative and Administrative Proposals
His Views and Responses
Post-Parliamentary Career and Death
Independence Medal
