llustrated Biography of Atatürk and
Chronology of Independence and Reforms
Political and cultural reforms
October 29, 1923
The Turkish Grand National Assembly declares Turkish
state as a republic and M. Kemal is elected President.
March 1, 1924 Ataturk’s speech in Parliament: "There
is a need to separate Islam from its traditional place
in politics and to elevate it in its appropriate place.
This is necessary for both the nation’s worldly and
spiritual happiness. We have to urgently and
definitively relieve our sacred and holy beliefs and
values from the dark and uncertain stage of political
greed and of politics. This is the only way to elevate
the Muslim religion". (In 1982 the
Government adopted a decision to attach Turkish Imams
serving in Europe on the payroll of the Saudi official
organization "Rabitat-ul-Islam", which operates to
spread fundamentalism to the world. The Government also
accepted $ 210 million donation for establishing an
Islamic Cultural Center at the Middle East Technical
University in Ankara)
March 3, 1924 Khalifate is abolished and Ottoman
family is deported. Sharia (Islamic law) offices are
closed, Sharia system is abolished. Religious education
system is abolished. Civil education system is
introduced as the uniform education.
(Religious instruction was first
allowed outside public schools by Government orders on
January 27, 1947; Selective courses on religion was then
introduced into schools on November 25, 1948; Opening of
religious schools to train Imams followed on January 15,
1949; A theology school opened at Ankara University on
June 4, 1949; Courses on religion became mandatory on
October 21, 1950; Imam school graduates became eligible
to enter universities on May 17, 1967)
February 11, 1925 A reactionary revolt by Sheik
Said starts in the eastern provinces.
February 21, 1925 The Turkish National Assembly
adopts a resolution to translate Koran into Turkish.
February 25, 1925 The Turkish Grand National
Assembly prohibits all religious activities in politics.
May 5, 1925 Armenia sends Manuk Manukian from
Greece to assassinate M. Kemal.
November 30, 1925 The Turkish Grand National
Assembly orders the closure of religious and secterian
convents. (20 religious tombs
opened for public veneration on February 17, 1950) (On
January 12, 1997 the Prime Minister gave an official
Ramadan dinner to 51 sect and other religious leaders)
December 26, 1925 The Turkish Grand National
Assembly adopts the international calendar.
February 17, 1926 The Turkish Grand National
Assembly adopts the Civil Code.
March 1, 1926 The Turkish Grand National Assembly
adopts the Penal Code.
March 22, 1926 The Turkish Grand National
Assembly establishes the Turkish Language Institute.
April 22, 1926 The Turkish Grand National
Assembly adopts the Commerce Code.
August 27, 1927 An assassination attempt on
Ataturk is foiled.
October 28, 1927 First census of the Republic era
is carried out
April 10, 1928 Constitution is amended to include
the Republic's principle of Laicism.
November 1, 1928 The Turkish alphabet is adopted.
Ataturk states: "The adoption of the Turkish alphabet
will be a milestone in this country’s struggle for
progress".
Teaching new Turkish Alphabet, Kayseri (1928) |
January 1, 1929 Public schools for adults for
mandatory education open.
September 1, 1929 Arabic and Farsi classes in
schools are discontinued.
February 12, 1932 Cultural community centers
called "Halkevleri" open for the purpose of educating
the public on reforms and on cultural identity.
( Closed by a Parliamentary
decision on August 8, 1951)
July 18, 1932 Turkey joins the League of Nations.
February 4, 1933 Government issues an order that
Koran and Ezan are to be read in Turkish.
(The requirement of reading Ezan
in Turkish was lifted on June 16, 1950)
Giving the Tenth Year Speech (1933) |
October 15-20, 1933 He delivers his historical
speech on the occasion of the tenth Anniversary of the
proclamation of the republic. This speech constitutes) a
formal and comprehensive account of his actions from the
time of the War of Independence to that date.
January 12, 1934 Greece’s former Prime Minister
Venizelos nominates Ataturk for the Nobel Peace Prize.
June 21, 1934 The Turkish Grand National Assembly
adopts the law regarding surnames.
November 2, 1934 Government temporarily suspends
broadcasting Turkish music on radio
November 24, 1934 The Turkish Grand National
Assembly gives him the surname of Ataturk.
December 5, 1934 The Turkish Grand National
Assembly adopts the voting rights for Women in
parliamentary elections.
Turkish women were given their political rights
in 1934, long before many countries in Europe
and in the Middle East. |
April 22, 1935 International Women’s Congress
meets in Istanbul. Ataturk’s message to the Congress: "I
am convinced that the exercise of social and political
rights by women is necessary for mankind’s happiness and
pride. You can rest assured that Turkish women together
with world’s women will work towards world peace and
security".
July 20, 1936 Montreux Treaty is signed, which
revised the legal regime applicable to the Straits by
giving full sovereignty over them to Turkey.
October 2, 1936 Turkey brings the case of people
of Hatay for independence to the League of Nations.
January 27, 1937 The League of Nations recognizes
the independence of Hatay.
February 5, 1937 Amendment of the Constitution to
include the principle of laicism.
March 21, 1937 A reactionary uprising erupts in
Dersim
November 4, 1937 Mark Twain Society of America
presents an award to Ataturk: "You have left a more
glorious name in history than that of Alexander the
Great, Julius Cesar and Napoleon. Your military and
civil genius has deeply affected human history".
November 10, 1938 Atatürk dies in Istanbul.
June 29, 1939 Hatay National Assembly decides
unanimously to join Turkey, because of continuous
intervention of French in their internal affairs |
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