10 Turkish women from the 20th century who left a mark on Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Turkey celebrates 5 December to commemorate the day when Turkish women won the right to vote and stand for electoral office. Women's suffrage was achieved for parliamentary elections in Turkey on December 5, 1934, through a constitutional amendment.

Turkey is among the first countries to extend this right to women, as it was one of the many reforms that founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, implemented. Many European countries did not grant this right until decades later. France did not pass women's suffrage until 1944, Italy 1946, Greece 1952, and Switzerland in 1971.

Daily Sabah has picked 10 powerful and special Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history. We wish a future which secures the rights of women of the world.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Sabiha Gökçen (1913 – 2001) was a Turkish aviator. According to the Air University, she was the world's first female fighter pilot, and the first Turkish female combat pilot, aged 23. She was one of the eight adopted children of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Keriman Halis Ece-Tamer (1913 – 2012) was a Turkish beauty pageant titleholder, pianist, and fashion model who won the Miss Turkey 1932 title. She was also crowned Miss Universe 1932 in Spa, Belgium and thus became Turkey's first and only Miss Universe.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Tansu Penbe Çiller (1946 –) is a Turkish economist, academician and politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Turkey from 1993 to 1996. She is Turkey's first and only female prime minister to date.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Güler Sabancı (1955 –) is a third-generation female member of the Sabancı family, and currently the chairperson of the family-controlled Sabancı Holding, the second-biggest industrial and financial conglomerate of Turkey. As of 2014, she is listed as the 60th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ (1965 –) is a businesswoman, who between 2007 and 2010, served as the first female chairperson of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TÜSİAD), the top association of businesspeople in Turkey.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Halide Edip Adıvar (1884 – 1964) was a prominent Turkish novelist, nationalist, and political leader for women's rights. She took part in the Turkish War of Independence which was fought between the Turkish nationalists and the proxies of the Allies.

She was granted the ranks of first corporal and then sergeant in the army, and traveled to the frontline. In 1950, she was elected to Parliament.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Süreyya Ağaoğlu (1903 – 1989) was a Turkish Azerbaijani origin writer, jurist, and the first female lawyer in Turkish history.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Leman Bozkurt Altınçekiç (1932 – 2001) was an air colonel and the first female jet fighter pilot of the Turkish and NATO Air Forces.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Afife Jale (1902 – 1941) was a Turkish stage actress, best known as the first Muslim theatre actress in Turkey.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Filiz Dinçmen (1939 –) is a former Turkish diplomat, who became the first female Turkish ambassador to a foreign country.

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

10 Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the Turkish history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history

Turkish women from the last century who have left a mark in the history