Bahriye Üçok
Encyclopedia
Bahriye Üçok was a female Turkish
academic of theology
, left-wing politician, writer, columnist
and women's rights
activist, whose assassination in 1990, remains unresolved.
, Bahriye Üçok finished her primary education in Ordu
and then graduated from Kandilli High School for Girls in Istanbul
. She was educated in Medieval
Islam
ic and Turkish History at the Faculty of Philology, History and Geography of Ankara University
. At the same time, she attended the State Conservatory and completed the Opera section.
After eleven years, she worked as a high school teacher in Samsun
and Ankara
, she entered 1953 Ankara University as an assistant in the Faculty of Theology,. She obtained her PhD in 1957, and became 1965 an associate professor with her thesis on "Female rulers in Islamic countries" and finally professor, being the ever first female university teacher in this faculty. Being fluent in Arabic
and Persian
, she interpreted the Qur'an
in a modern, realistic and tolerant way. She quit her post following increasing threats and her feeling of unsafe after 1960.
In 1971, she was elected contingency senator, and so her political career started. Bahriye Üçok joined 1977 the center-left Republican People's Party
(CHP). After the military coup in 1980, she co-founded the "Populist Party" (Halkçı Parti) and was elected 1983 deputy of Ordu
into the parliament. In 1986, she switched over to Social Democratic People's Party
(SHP).
She also wrote her opinions in her column in the newspaper Cumhuriyet
. After a TV forum, at which she declared that covered dressing in Islam (Hijab
) is not obligatory, Bahriye Üçok received increasingly threads from the militant organization "Islamic Movement" . Not a long time later, on October 6, 1990, she was killed by a parcel bomb looking like a book package as she was trying to open it up in front of her house door. The assassination remained unsolved.
The "parcel-girl" Gülay Calap, who accepts the packet for delivery, had disappeared for a long period after the assassination. On January 16, 1994 she was arrested in İzmir as the İzmir responsible of "Türkiye Devrimci Halk Partisi" (Revolutionist Peoples Party of Turkey) which is a sub organization of PKK. The court sentenced her to prison for 22 years and 6 months. Parcel-girl stayed in Prison for 12 years and joined DTP
in 2007. In November 2007, Calap became the vice president of DTP. (http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/7755554.asp?gid=180&sz=3005)
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
academic of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, left-wing politician, writer, columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
and women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
activist, whose assassination in 1990, remains unresolved.
Biography
Born in TrabzonTrabzon
Trabzon is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast...
, Bahriye Üçok finished her primary education in Ordu
Ordu
Ordu 'army') is a port city on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, and the capital of Ordu Province. Estimated population c. 2010: 141,341.-Etymology:...
and then graduated from Kandilli High School for Girls in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
. She was educated in Medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic and Turkish History at the Faculty of Philology, History and Geography of Ankara University
Ankara University
Ankara University is a public university in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in the Turkish Republic....
. At the same time, she attended the State Conservatory and completed the Opera section.
After eleven years, she worked as a high school teacher in Samsun
Samsun
Samsun is a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey. It is the provincial capital of Samsun Province and a major Black Sea port.-Name:...
and Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, she entered 1953 Ankara University as an assistant in the Faculty of Theology,. She obtained her PhD in 1957, and became 1965 an associate professor with her thesis on "Female rulers in Islamic countries" and finally professor, being the ever first female university teacher in this faculty. Being fluent in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
and Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, she interpreted the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
in a modern, realistic and tolerant way. She quit her post following increasing threats and her feeling of unsafe after 1960.
In 1971, she was elected contingency senator, and so her political career started. Bahriye Üçok joined 1977 the center-left Republican People's Party
Republican People's Party (Turkey)
The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
(CHP). After the military coup in 1980, she co-founded the "Populist Party" (Halkçı Parti) and was elected 1983 deputy of Ordu
Ordu
Ordu 'army') is a port city on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, and the capital of Ordu Province. Estimated population c. 2010: 141,341.-Etymology:...
into the parliament. In 1986, she switched over to Social Democratic People's Party
Social Democratic People's Party (Turkey)
The current Social Democratic People's Party or SHP is a Turkish left social-democratic political party established in 2002 by Murat Karayalçın, former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor and Foreign Minister ....
(SHP).
She also wrote her opinions in her column in the newspaper Cumhuriyet
Cumhuriyet
Cumhuriyet is a centre-left Turkish daily newspaper, founded on May 7, 1924 by journalist Yunus Nadi Abalıoğlu. Based in Istanbul, it has been situated since October 17, 2005 in Mecidiyeköy. Cumhuriyet was the last newspaper to leave the old press district Cağaloğlu...
. After a TV forum, at which she declared that covered dressing in Islam (Hijab
Hijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
) is not obligatory, Bahriye Üçok received increasingly threads from the militant organization "Islamic Movement" . Not a long time later, on October 6, 1990, she was killed by a parcel bomb looking like a book package as she was trying to open it up in front of her house door. The assassination remained unsolved.
The "parcel-girl" Gülay Calap, who accepts the packet for delivery, had disappeared for a long period after the assassination. On January 16, 1994 she was arrested in İzmir as the İzmir responsible of "Türkiye Devrimci Halk Partisi" (Revolutionist Peoples Party of Turkey) which is a sub organization of PKK. The court sentenced her to prison for 22 years and 6 months. Parcel-girl stayed in Prison for 12 years and joined DTP
DTP
-Computing:* Distributed transaction processing, in computer systems, usually refers to the X/Open model of co-ordinating transactions between multiple participants* Desktop publishing, a technological publishing method * Dynamic Trunking Protocol...
in 2007. In November 2007, Calap became the vice president of DTP. (http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/7755554.asp?gid=180&sz=3005)
External links
- Who is who
- Prof. Dr. Bahriye ÜÇOK, Atatürkçü Düşünce Derneği