Ahmet Emin Yalman (1888–19 December 1972) was a
Turkish journalist, author and professor. He was a liberal and opposed the spread of the
Nazi
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Naz ...
ideology in his home country.
Early life and education
Ahmet Emin Yalman was born into a
Dönmeh family in 1888 in
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...
, which at that time was part of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
. His early education was diverse and he attended several schools in Thessaloniki, amongst them a primary school with
Sabbatean
The Sabbateans (or Sabbatians) were a variety of Jewish followers, disciples, and believers in Sabbatai Zevi (1626–1676),
a Sephardic Jewish rabbi and Kabbalist who was proclaimed to be the Jewish Messiah in 1666 by Nathan of Gaza.
Vast n ...
influences, then the military middle school where his father Osman Tefviq Bey was the teacher of
calligraphy
Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...
and following some difficulties he ran into with his teachers, his father decided to enroll him into the German school in Selanik.
[Abdullah Saçmali. (2015). p.13] In 1903, as his father was employed in Ottoman Press directorate in
Constantinople (present-day Istanbul), he attended the German school in
Beyoğlu
Beyoğlu (, ota, بكاوغلی, script=Arab) is a district on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Golden Horn. It was known as the region of Pera (Πέρα, mean ...
where he learned German and English.
Following his graduation began to work as a translator for the newspaper ''
Sabah
Sabah () is a state of Malaysia located in northern Borneo, in the region of East Malaysia. Sabah borders the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the southwest and the North Kalimantan province of Indonesia to the south. The Federal Territory of ...
'' as well as the
Ottoman Government
The Ottoman Empire developed over the years as a despotism with the Sultan as the supreme ruler of a centralized government that had an effective control of its provinces, officials and inhabitants. Wealth and rank could be inherited but were j ...
.
He also attempted to study law at the
Darülfünun in Istanbul, but was not able to finish the school.
[Abdullah Saçmali. (2015). p.14] From 1911 onwards he studied political sciences at the
Columbia University, from where he earned a
Ph.D
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...
in 1914.
Professional career
After he returned to Istanbul he worked with
Ziya Gökalp
Mehmet Ziya Gökalp (23 March 1876 – 25 October 1924) was a Turkish sociologist, writer, poet, and politician. After the 1908 Young Turk Revolution that reinstated constitutionalism in the Ottoman Empire, he adopted the pen name Gökalp ("cel ...
at the Darülfünun, and was a journalist for the newspaper
''Tanin''.
For ''Tanin'' he covered the
World War I from the various battle fronts in which the
German Empire
The German Empire (), Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditar ...
was involved in.
Following his return to Istanbul, he established the ''
Vakit'' in October 1917.
In 1919, due to his opposition to the government of
Damat Ferid Pasha
Damat Mehmed Adil Ferid Pasha ( ota, محمد عادل فريد پاشا tr, Damat Ferit Paşa; 1853 – 6 October 1923), known simply as Damat Ferid Pasha, was an Ottoman liberal statesman, who held the office of Grand Vizier, the ' ...
was exiled for three months to
Kutahya,
by the order of the Sultan
Mehmet VI
Mehmed VI Vahideddin ( ota, محمد سادس ''Meḥmed-i sâdis'' or ''Vaḥîdü'd-Dîn''; tr, VI. Mehmed or /; 14 January 1861 – 16 May 1926), also known as Şahbaba () among the Osmanoğlu family, was the 36th and last Sultan of the O ...
. In 1920 he was exiled again, this time as a supporter of the Ottoman
Committee of Union and Progress
The Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) ( ota, اتحاد و ترقى جمعيتی, translit=İttihad ve Terakki Cemiyeti, script=Arab), later the Union and Progress Party ( ota, اتحاد و ترقى فرقهسی, translit=İttihad ve Tera ...
(CUP) by the
British Occupation forces.
He was released in 1921 and joined the forces of the
Ankara government around
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, or Mustafa Kemal Pasha until 1921, and Ghazi Mustafa Kemal from 1921 until 1934 ( 1881 – 10 November 1938) was a Turkish field marshal, revolutionary statesman, author, and the founding father of the Repub ...
.
[Abdullah Saçmali. (2015). p.15] Atatürk sent him to cover the several battle fronts in
Turkish War of independence
The Turkish War of Independence "War of Liberation", also known figuratively as ''İstiklâl Harbi'' "Independence War" or ''Millî Mücadele'' "National Struggle" (19 May 1919 – 24 July 1923) was a series of military campaigns waged by th ...
.
In 1923, he founded the newspaper ''
Vatan
''Vatan'' ("Homeland" or "Motherland") is a Turkish daily newspaper founded in 2002 by the Doğan Media Group. The paper was purchased by DK ( Demirören & Karacan) Corporation in April 2011 and was totally acquired by Demirören Holding Demiör ...
'' and following this he became a fierce critic of
Kemalist
Kemalism ( tr, Kemalizm, also archaically ''Kamâlizm''), also known as Atatürkism ( tr, Atatürkçülük, Atatürkçü düşünce), or The Six Arrows ( tr, Altı Ok), is the founding official ideology of the Republic of Turkey.Eric J. Zurcher ...
Government, especially of
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is n ...
İsmet İnönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü (; 24 September 1884 – 25 December 1973) was a Turkish army officer and statesman of Kurdish descent, who served as the second President of Turkey from 11 November 1938 to 22 May 1950, and its Prime Minister three time ...
who demanded the imposition of the law for the restoration of order during the
Sheikh Said rebellion.
Due to this opposition, he had to stand trial in front of the
Independence Tribunals and was banned from journalistic activities until 1936. During this period he involved in business and became a representative of various American companies.
When he was allowed to resume his journalistic activities he worked for the ''
Tan'' newspaper.
[
In 1940 he was able to re-publish the ''Vatan.'' In 1952, a nationalist student attempted to murder him, but the assault failed and the student was sentenced to twenty years in prison.][Abdullah Saçmali. (2015). p.16] He died on the 19 December 1972 in Istanbul.
Work and awards
Yalman was the founder, and for many years the editor, of the influential Turkish nationalist
Turkish nationalism ( tr, Türk milliyetçiliği) is a political ideology that promotes and glorifies the Turkish people, as either a national, ethnic, or linguistic group. The term "ultranationalism" is often used to describe Turkish nationali ...
newspaper ''Vatan''. He was also one of the founders of the Liberal International
Liberal International (LI) is a worldwide organization of liberal political parties - a political international. It was founded in Oxford in 1947 and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties, aiming to strengthen liberalism around ...
in 1947 and the International Press Institute
International Press Institute (IPI) is a global organisation dedicated to the promotion and protection of press freedom and the improvement of journalism practices. The institution was founded by 34 editors from 15 countries at Columbia Universit ...
in 1950.
He published three books in English, one in German, and more than ten in Turkish, including a four volume autobiography.Golden Pen of Freedom The Golden Pen of Freedom Award is an annual international journalism award established in 1961, given by the World Association of Newspapers to individuals or organisations. The stated purpose of the award is "to recognise the outstanding action, i ...
of the International Federation of Newspaper Publishers in 1961 and The Gold Medal of the British Institute of Journalists
The Chartered Institute of Journalists is a professional association for journalists and is the senior such body in the UK and the oldest in the world.
History
The ''Chartered Institute of Journalists'' was proposed during a meeting in Manchest ...
.
References
External links
Google inauthor search for Ahmet Emin Yalman
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yalman, Ahmet Emin
1888 births
1972 deaths
20th-century journalists from the Ottoman Empire
Writers from Thessaloniki
20th-century Turkish journalists
Turkish newspaper publishers (people)
Deutsche Schule Istanbul alumni
Istanbul University Faculty of Law alumni
Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni
Istanbul University faculty
Malta exiles
Turkish non-fiction writers
Sabbateans
20th-century writers from the Ottoman Empire
20th-century Turkish businesspeople
20th-century newspaper founders