International Women’s Day.. The Turkish Embassy in Egypt showcases the stories of 9 influential women in Turkish history
Cairo- Nessma Youssef
The Turkish Embassy in Cairo hosted an Iftar for women on the occasion of March 8, International Women’s Day, and gave a brief introduction to 9 women who left their mark on Turkish history.
Ayşen Baltık Şen, the wife of the Turkish Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Şen, organized an Iftar for women, Turkish researchers and Egyptian journalists on the occasion of March 8, International Women’s Day.
During the event held at the Ambassador’s residence on the occasion of this special day, 9 women who left their mark on Turkish history were introduced: Zeynep Kamil Hanım, Princess Kadriya Hussein, Amina Fuad Tocay, Shula Yuksel Şener, Cahide Soncu, Sabiha Gokcen, Halide Edip Adivar, Alef Alatlı and Fatma Aliya Topuz. The event included an Iftar table with a variety of dishes and desserts from Turkish cuisine.
In her speech, Ayşen Balçıkşen expressed her happiness to meet women at such an event on the occasion of International Women’s Day and during the holy month of Ramadan, and said goodbye to the 9 valuable women who left their mark on Turkish history.
Turkish Women Who Left Their Mark on the Turkish Historical Scene:
1- Zeynep Kamil Hanım:
Zeynep Kamil Hanım (1828-1884) was the daughter of Kavalali Mehmet Ali Pasha, the ruler of Egypt and the founder of modern Egypt, and is known for her charitable works in Istanbul. Her most important charitable activity is the Zeynep Kamil Hospital, which was founded in Istanbul in 1862. Today, the hospital operates under the name of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Yusuf Kamil Pasha married Zeynep Hanım in Cairo when he was a clerk in the Chamber of Deputies of Mehmet Ali Pasha. After their forced divorce, she married Yusuf Kamil Pasha again in Istanbul under the protection of the Sultan. Yusuf Kamil Pasha later became the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire. After his death, he and his wife were buried in the same grave in the garden of the same hospital in Istanbul.
2- Princess Kadriya Hussein:
Princess Kadriya Hussein (1888-1955) is the daughter of the Egyptian Sultan Hussein Kamel and one of the representatives of Ottoman Turkish literature in Egypt. She was among the “enlightened women” of the regulation period, and attracted attention with her journalistic identity and her fighting spirit. She has many works written in Turkish, including “Famous Women”.
She was a supporter of the Turkish national movement led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and wrote the book “Letters from Holy Ankara”. She did important work in the field of women’s rights in both Türkiye and Egypt.
3- Amina Fuad Togay:
Amina Fuad Togay (1890-1975) is a world-famous painter and writer, born into a large family of Ottoman Turkish/Egyptian origins. One of the most important works of her life is the book “Three Centuries – History of a Family in Egypt and Turkey”, which sheds light on the shared Turkish-Egyptian history.
4- Sule Yüksel Şener
Sule Yüksel Şener (May 29, 1938 – August 28, 2019) was a Turkish writer and journalist. Throughout her life, she worked and fought to strengthen the position of conservative women in Turkish society. By the late 1960s, she had become a pioneering model for women’s participation in the public sphere. Her best-selling novel “Peace Street” was adapted into a film in Türkiye called “Peace Street” and a TV series of the same name.
5- Cahide Soncu:
Cahide Soncu (1916-1981) was the first female Turkish film director. She began her film career in the 1930s and quickly became one of Türkiye’s brightest stars. She also had a pioneering role in directing with the film “Vatan and Namık Kemal” which she directed in 1953. She paved the way for women in Turkish cinema, and her great influence is still felt in the film industry today.
6- Sabiha Gökçen:
Sabiha Gökçen (1913-2001) made history as the world’s first female fighter pilot. She is considered one of the symbols of Türkiye’s modernization process, and was adopted by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding leader of the Turkish Republic, and received military training in aviation. Through her active service in the Turkish Air Force, she proved that women could have a presence in this field as well. Her inspiring legacy has led many women to pursue careers in aviation. Her name has been immortalized by naming the second airport on the Anatolian side of Istanbul.
7- Halide Edip Adivar:
Halide Edip Adivar (1884-1964) is a multi-talented personality who is a writer, activist, politician, teacher and academic. Also known as “Corporal Halide”, Adivar is one of the most important realist novelists of the Republican period. In her works, she addressed women’s education and their position in society, and defended women’s rights through her writings. Many of her novels were adapted into films and television works.
8- Alef Alatlı:
Alef Alatlı (1944-2023) is a prominent writer, economist, sociologist and thinker who left a deep mark on the world of literature. Through her novels and articles, she addressed issues of society, history and politics from different perspectives. With her strong expertise in economics and philosophy, she made significant contributions to raising cultural awareness. Among the awards she received are the Turkish Writers’ Union Novel Prize in 1986, the Aleksandrovich Solzhenitsyn Literary Prize in 2006, the Turkish Writers’ Union Honorary Award in 2012, and the Presidential Grand Prize for Culture and Arts in 2014. Her works continue to have a great influence on Turkish literature and the world of thought.
9- Fatma Aliye Topuz:
Fatma Aliye Topuz (1862-1936) is one of the first pioneering female novelists and thinkers in Türkiye. She fought for women’s rights and education, and addressed social issues in her works. Her work “Lectures” is an important work that questions the traditional status of women in the late Ottoman period. As a sign of respect for her ideas and legacy and to honor her, her image has been placed on the 50 lira banknotes of the Republic of Türkiye since 2009.
