Mehmed VI appears to have viewed Atatürk as a rebel and a threat to the Ottoman order, not as a supporter of the new republican movement. Sources on the period say Mehmed VI labeled Mustafa Kemal and his allies as “rebels” and even backed a religious decree against them.

Historical context

Mehmed VI was the last Ottoman sultan, and Atatürk’s rise directly undermined his rule. Atatürk rejected the Treaty of Sèvres and led the nationalist movement that ultimately ended the sultanate, so the two were political enemies by the end.

What that means

A safe way to summarize it is:

  • Mehmed VI likely saw Atatürk as disloyal to the sultanate.
  • He treated Atatürk’s movement as a challenge to imperial and religious authority.
  • Atatürk, in turn, helped bring about Mehmed VI’s exile in 1922.

Important nuance

We do not have a famous private quote from Mehmed VI giving a subtle personal opinion of Atatürk; what survives is mostly his political stance during the collapse of the empire. So the best evidence points to hostility and alarm rather than admiration.

The short version: Mehmed VI thought Atatürk was an insurgent who threatened his throne and the Ottoman system.