His father (Hüseyin Efendi), originally from the district of Çerkeş in the sanjak of Çankırı, was mostly absent, as he was exiled for being a political foe of the ruling regime; while his mother (Hatice Refia Hanım), a Greek Muslim convert from the island of Chios, died when he was very young.
His father (Hüseyin Efendi) was frequently absent because he was exiled for opposing the government; originally from Çerkeş in Çankırı sanjak, his mother (Hatice Refia Hanım), a Greek Muslim convert from Chios Island, died when he was young.