M. K Ataturk's problem was not with Islam itself, but with the people in charge who didn't understand anything about it and yet be in strong positions leading, deciding the peoples fate, they misused the religion for different political, economical gains, the people were kept dumb. 90 % couldn't even write or read!
Besides m.k. Ataturk knew Islam much better then you would think, it is not a ordinairy man, he is a sophisticated person who probably had much more knowledge, and much higher understanding then most of todays so called syekhs.
But still I'm not saying that he was a religious person that's something between him and God. Heck how many of our prime ministers or president's were religious until now? As far as I understand, some use a nationalist feelings of the people, others pretend to be true religious to get the votes. They're all the same, I personallu trust no politician because th simply are just FAKE! Atleast m.k ataturk did something real for the nation, he was on the battlefields alongside the army. At one point he gave them the order to die! And they did! That's what I call a leader. One who you can trust, if he says I don't order you to attack, but I order you to die! And they did, because they believed in his true leadership. Today I won't even lift my finger if all those politicians unite and orders me to do!!! That's the differnce.
Mk was not an religious person, he was a true leader which is more needed to lead the nation, to manage a country proporly you need real states men not a cleric! If however you need spiritual guidence, you can go to the mosque, its between you and God, don't have to show it offf, or make propaganda about it. M.K. Have not forbid anyone to do this!
Btw how can the State be Islamic, or muslim, it doesn't have an afterlife function, its only purpose is to serve people, provide security, rule of law. It has no life after death?