Turkish Republic Day

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HAPPY TURKISH REPUBLIC DAY =)

Today, October 29th is the day Republic of Turkey founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923.

But it is much more important for turks compared to national days of other countries because turks not only celebrate the republic itself, but also what republic represents to them.

Ottoman Empire a.k.a. Turkish Empire was an islamic state. Islam never experienced a renaissance. Even today, most of islamic countries are still in a cultural middle age with religious oppression, inhumane violations of human rights, irrational discrimination and obscurantism which keeps all these countries in a never ending cycle of cultural stagnation that is ensured by reactionary ideologies.

To us, turks, Republic is so much more than a parliamentary democracy; it is Turkish Renaissance. With Republic, with all revolutions of Atatürk, Turkish Civilization made a progress worth of 200 years in only 20-30 years.
Laicism, Women's Suffrage, Equality of Sexes, Secularism, Co-Ed Education, Education Reforms, Establishments of Modern Universities, Abolition of Caliphate (islamic equivalent of Pope), Abolition of all Sharia Laws/courts, Economic Reforms that created Turkish Industry from nothing, Establishment of Modern Bank Systems, and many other social reforms. 
All these innovations, progression, and spirit of freedom is what Republic is for us.

“Culture is the foundation of the Turkish Republic. Following the military triumph we accomplished by bayonets, weapons and blood, we shall strive to win victories in such fields as culture, scholarship, science and economics.” 
Mustafa Kemal ATATURK

People celebrating Republic Day at Memorial Tomb of Ataturk with marches....

 

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