1923 is very important date in Turkish history. On that date, Mustafa kemal put an end to the Ottoman Empire and founded the Republic of Turkey.
As the president for fifteen years, until his death in 1938, M. Kemal Atatürk made a broad range of reforms in the political,social,legal,economic and cultural spheres.
Atatürk wanted to give his nation a modern outlook He changed some laws about wearing, the alphaber and the calendar. He sperateed the state and religion affairs.
In 1926 the new Civil Code abolished polygamy and recognized the equal rights of women in divorce, custody and inheritance. Later, in 1934 Turkish women gained the right to vote and to join the elections. In those years, women in many European countries didn't have such rights.
The founder of the Turkish Republic and the first president, stands as a toweing figure of the 20th century.