Beşir Atalay (pronounced [beʃiɾ ˈataɫaj]; born 1947) is a Turkish politician who was Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey in the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from 2011 to 2014.

He then worked at the State Planning Organization (DPT), Marmara University, and UNESCO's Turkish National Commission.

Atalay was the founding rector of the Kırıkkale University until he was removed from office by the Board of Higher Education (YÖK) in the aftermath of the Turkish military memorandum of 1997, on grounds he was involved in activities contrary to the interests of the state.

[3] In 2011, he was named deputy prime minister with the responsibility of human rights and the fight against terrorism and served in the post until 2014.

He was re-elected to the Turkish Parliament in the general elections of November 2015, this time representing the province of Van for the AKP,[4] but did not stand as a candidate in 2018.