--- title: Salih Murat slug: salih-murat-9e750 url: /detay/salih-murat-9e750 type: biography language: English entity: primary: Salih Murat type: biography categories: - name: General Knowledge slug: genel-kultur url: /kategori/genel-kultur - name: Politics And International Relations slug: siyaset-ve-uluslararasi-iliskiler url: /kategori/siyaset-ve-uluslararasi-iliskiler - name: Biography And Autobiography slug: biyografi-ve-otobiyografi url: /kategori/biyografi-ve-otobiyografi tags: - Multilingualism - Right to Education - Minority rights - Salih Murat - Balkans - politics - North Macedonia author: Nursena Şahin created_at: 2026-07-06T18:28:19.502945+03:00 updated_at: 2026-07-06T18:28:19.502945+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/11/29/Qazq3PAipZiOjUgBNcKZfadh3q5vcdBB.jpg --- # Salih Murat > Salih Murat is a member of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. He is the first person of Turkish origin to be elected to the presidency of the country's constitutional judiciary. ## KURE Information Cards ![thumbs_b_c_02749fce0eef7eee42ca85d3cfb7b3ee.jpg](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/11/29/8nznUrGwnrJihbs6C1FfI0CvgJxWT3y6.jpg) *Salih Murat* | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Birth | 1966, Vrapčište, Gostivar, Republic of North Macedonia | | Nationality | Turk | | Education | University of Belgrade Faculty of Law (International Law) | | Occupation | Politician,Lawyer | | Title | Member of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia | | Political Party | Movement for Rights and Freedoms (European Alliance Front) | | Civil Society | Union of Turkish Civil Society Organizations of Macedonia (Founding Member) | ## Article Content **Salih Murat** (Albanian: *Sali Murati*) is a politician, lawyer and former President of the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia who represents the Turkish community of the country. He is the first person of Turkish origin to be elected to the presidency of the constitutional judiciary in the country and, following his election to parliament in the 2024 elections, has taken an active role in politics. He is known for his work in public service, law and minority rights. Salih Murat is married and a father of four children. ### **Early Life and Education** Salih Murat was born in 1966 in Vrapčište, near Gostivar. After completing primary and secondary education, he pursued higher education at the University of Belgrade, graduating from its International Law department in 1991. In the years following the completion of his legal education, Murat continued his professional career in various fields but faced difficulties advancing in public office due to his ethnic identity.[^2] Nevertheless, he maintained his expertise in law and participated in civil society activities. He played a role in establishing the Union of Turkish Civil Society Organizations of Macedonia, contributing to the organization and representation of the Turkish community. ### **Constitutional Court Membership and Presidency** Elected to the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia in 2012, Salih Murat worked in areas such as constitutional rights, multilingualism, citizenship rights and minority policies. On 30 October 2019, he was elected President of the Constitutional Court, becoming the first judge of Turkish origin to hold this position in the country’s history. His presidency lasted from 1 November 2019 until 2021. After completing his nine-year term on the court, he stepped down and continued his work in academic and social fields.[^3] ![Image](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/11/29/kvJUwsOLMD00Yl30lV9lduiru3Yoy1zr.jpg) *President Erdoğan Received the President of the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia (Anadolu Ajansı)* ### **Political Career** In the 2024 general elections, Salih Murat entered parliament as a member of the 11th Assembly of North Macedonia, elected from the list of the Alliance for Rights and Democracy. In his parliamentary work, he brought to the agenda issues concerning the representation of the Turkish community, the implementation of multilingualism, the expansion of the official use of Turkish in local administrations, the strengthening of Turkish language instruction in education and access to public services.[^4] Due to the legislative proposals he submitted, the questions he raised, his activities in committees and his participation in plenary sessions, an independent assessment for the first half of 2025 ranked him among the most effective members of parliament in the country.[^5] [YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGh1iyJim_Q) *Salih Murat Explained the Problems and Future of the Balkans to Alper Tan on SD TV (Stratejik Düşünce Enstitüsü)* ### **Work on Turkish Community and Language Rights** In public statements and political activities, Salih Murat has focused on the practices affecting the educational, linguistic, representational and cultural rights of the Turkish population in North Macedonia. While acknowledging that Turkish is recognized as a constitutional right, he has pointed out practical limitations and initiated efforts to expand the use of Turkish in local administrations. He regularly requested information from municipalities regarding the use of Turkish in public spaces, signage, official correspondence and meetings to ensure compliance.[^6] He raised in parliament the issue of Turkish-language classes not being opened and students being deprived of Turkish-language education. In the context of preserving cultural heritage, he conducted campaigns to raise awareness among relevant institutions about the protection of Ottoman-Turkish historical structures. He supported initiatives to provide sermons and religious education in Turkish, contributing to the strengthening of Turkish-language religious services in areas with significant Turkish populations.[^7] ![Image](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/11/29/HwHNbU0oUiIldzByqZK8bWd5xDJTa0fD.jpg) *Minister of Foreign Affairs Fidan Received North Macedonian MP Murat in Skopje (Anadolu Ajansı)* ### **Social and Political Views** Salih Murat advocates for the constitutional representation of the Turkish community in North Macedonia’s multicultural structure and for equal participation in public life. He emphasizes that the Turkish language is a fundamental element of community identity and actively promotes efforts to expand its usage. In parliamentary speeches, he has addressed challenges faced by the Turkish community, including discrimination in public life, inequality of opportunity in education and underrepresentation.[^8] ## Academic Sources and References 1. Adalet.gen.tr. "Salih MURAT." Accessed November 29, 2025. https://www.adalet.gen.tr/salih-murat.html 2. Anadolu Ajansı. "Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan, Kuzey Makedonya Anayasa Mahkemesi Başkanını kabul etti." Accessed November 29, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/politika/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-kuzey-makedonya-anayasa-mahkemesi-baskanini-kabul-etti/2128520 3. Anadolu Ajansı. "Kuzey Makedonya'daki Türkler, asimilasyon ve ayrımcılığın son bulmasını istiyor." Accessed November 29, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ayrimcilikhatti/ayrimcilik/%20kuzey-makedonyadaki-turkler-asimilasyon-ve-ayrim%20ciligin-son-bulmasini-istiyor/1820735 4. Anadolu Ajansı. "N.Macedonia: First Turk to be Constitutional Court head." Accessed November 29, 2025. 5. Gündem Gazetesi. "Salih Murat, Kuzey Makedonya’da ’Yılın En İyi Milletvekili’ seçildi." GündemGazetesi.com. Accessed November 29, 2025. https://gundemgazetesi.com/detayh.php?id=22052 6. Stratejik Düşünce Enstitüsü. "Salih Murat Balkanların sorunlarını ve geleceğini SD TV'de Alper Tan'a değerlendirdi." YouTube Video. Date Published: June 5, 2018. Accessed November 29, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGh1iyJim\_Q ## Citations [^2]: Anadolu Ajansı, "Kuzey Makedonya'daki Türkler, asimilasyon ve ayrımcılığın son bulmasını istiyor," Anadolu Ajansı, erişim 29 Kasım 2025, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ayrimcilikhatti/ayrimcilik/%20kuzey-makedonyadaki-turkler-asimilasyon-ve-ayrim%20ciligin-son-bulmasini-istiyor/1820735 [^3]: Anadolu Ajansı, "Kuzey Makedonya'daki Türkler, asimilasyon ve ayrımcılığın son bulmasını istiyor," Anadolu Ajansı, erişim 29 Kasım 2025, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ayrimcilikhatti/ayrimcilik/%20kuzey-makedonyadaki-turkler-asimilasyon-ve-ayrim%20ciligin-son-bulmasini-istiyor/1820735 [^4]: Anadolu Ajansı, "Kuzey Makedonya'daki Türkler, asimilasyon ve ayrımcılığın son bulmasını istiyor," Anadolu Ajansı, erişim 29 Kasım 2025, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ayrimcilikhatti/ayrimcilik/%20kuzey-makedonyadaki-turkler-asimilasyon-ve-ayrim%20ciligin-son-bulmasini-istiyor/1820735 [^5]: Gündem Gazetesi, “Salih Murat, Kuzey Makedonya’da ’Yılın En İyi Milletvekili’ seçildi,” GündemGazetesi.com, erişim 29 Kasım 2025, https://gundemgazetesi.com/detayh.php?id=22052 [^6]: Anadolu Ajansı, "Kuzey Makedonya'daki Türkler, asimilasyon ve ayrımcılığın son bulmasını istiyor," Anadolu Ajansı, erişim 29 Kasım 2025, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ayrimcilikhatti/ayrimcilik/%20kuzey-makedonyadaki-turkler-asimilasyon-ve-ayrim%20ciligin-son-bulmasini-istiyor/1820735 [^7]: Anadolu Ajansı, "Kuzey Makedonya'daki Türkler, asimilasyon ve ayrımcılığın son bulmasını istiyor," Anadolu Ajansı, erişim 29 Kasım 2025, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ayrimcilikhatti/ayrimcilik/%20kuzey-makedonyadaki-turkler-asimilasyon-ve-ayrim%20ciligin-son-bulmasini-istiyor/1820735 [^8]: Anadolu Ajansı, "Kuzey Makedonya'daki Türkler, asimilasyon ve ayrımcılığın son bulmasını istiyor," Anadolu Ajansı, erişim 29 Kasım 2025, https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ayrimcilikhatti/ayrimcilik/%20kuzey-makedonyadaki-turkler-asimilasyon-ve-ayrim%20ciligin-son-bulmasini-istiyor/1820735