İbrahim Bedrettin Elmalı was born in Elmalı in Antalya in 1903.He went to primary and secondary school in Elmalı. Then he went to Istanbul and studied in

Darü’l-Hilâfeti’l Âliyye  madrasa. He graduated from Dârül-Fünun(Ottoman University) Faculty of Theology in 1928.He worked as a müezzin and gave citizenship and Turkish lessons in high schools. After working in different government jobs in Istanbul and Ankara, he was the mufti of Üsküdar and Istanbul. He also worked at the Directorate of Religious Affairs Personnel department. He was appointed President of Religious Affairs on December 17 1965.He remained in office for a year and retired in October 1966. He was a member of parliament for two terms. He passed away in Elmalı, Antalya on 05.11.1994.