Women's People Party


Women's People Party was one of the political party initiatives in Turkey. It was founded before the Republican People's Party under the leadership of Nezihe Muhiddin.

About

When the republic was declared in 1923, Nezihe Muhiddin and thirteen women decided to gather a women's committee for women's rights. Although the preparations were held in the house of Nezihe Muhiddin, the first meeting of the committee took place in Darülfünun Conference Hall on 15 June 1923. In the meeting, a decision was taken to establish a political party named "Women's People Party". The schedule of the party took place in the press at that time. The party, led by Nezihe Muhiddin, completed the works and submitted the petition to found the party even before the Republican People's Party. Eight months later, governorship refused the request and gave no permission to establish the party on the grounds that "political representation of women was not possible according to the election law of 1909". In response, the Women 's People Party transformed into an association, the Turkish Women's Union.

Turkish Women's Union

was the leader of Turkish Women's Union that aimed to "raise womanhood to a modern and experienced level by uplifting them in intellectual and social areas". Later in 1924, she founded a journal, Türk Kadın Yolu with her own means and released 18 issues. The content of the journal was particularly about the announcement of women's political demands.
Despite the fact that women's political rights were not yet recognized in 1925, Nezihe Muhiddin was nominated by the Turkish Women's Union for a deputyship along with Halide Edip. The aim was to influence the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and public about women's suffrage by bringing the issue to the agenda during the elections. However, their nomination was rejected by the Republican People's Party. According to some resources, on-going Sheikh Said Rebellion became a recent excuse for disregarding women's political demands.