Women’s People’s Party (Kadınlar Halk Fırkası) is the first Turkish party founded by and for women under the leadership of Nezihe Muhiddin during last years of the Ottoman State.
In 1923, when the Turkish republic had not yet been proclaimed, Nezihe Muhiddin and thirteen of her female friends announced that they had decided to convene a women’s council for women’s political rights.The council, whose preparations were underway at Nezihe Muhiddin’s home, took place on June 15, 1923 at the Darülfünun Conference Hall. The council decided to establish a political party called the Women’s People’s Party. The party’s program was published in the press. The party, which was led by Ms. Muhiddin, became the first political party in the history of the Turkish state by completing its foundation work and submitting its founding petition before the Republican People’s Party was even established.
However, the founding petition was rejected eight months later. The governor’s office denied permission for the party’s establishment on the grounds that “political representation of women was not possible according to the election law of 1909”. However, the real reason behind denial was that founding fathers of the republic did not want any political party other than Republican People’s Party in politics. Not only women’s party, other political parties founded in accordance with the concerning law were closed. Thus, the country was ruled by the single party until 1950.
Political analysts argue that the Ottoman state was more tolerant to women’s political rights as it was established during the Ottoman era, and due to the closure of women’s people’s party.
The party was transformed into an association called “Turkish Women’s Union”.
