Also, in the past, Çelik graduated in Turkish language and literature from Istanbul University in 1983 and went on to a career as an academic at Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi, eventually becoming assistant professor in 1997.

He was elected to parliament for Van as a member of Tansu Çiller's DYP in 1999, moving to the newly founded AK Party in 2001.

[1] Regional bodies set up to monitor archaeology and other research throughout the country, led by architect and champion of Anatolia's cultural heritage Oktay Ekinci, one of those dismissed.

[2] As Minister of Education as well as curriculum reform and all the day-to-day running of the school system, Çelik has had to deal with a number of issues including: Çelik is of Turkish descent on his father's side and of Kurdish descent on his mother's side.

[4] He is married to Şahsenem Çelik and they have three children; Ali Ekrem, Enes, and Büşra Vuslat.