cumhuriyet

Cumhuriyet is the Turkish word for "republic" and is commonly used to refer to the Republic of Turkey. In Turkish, cumhuriyet derives from cumhur, meaning "people," with the suffix -iyet denoting a state or condition. The term is central to the secular, republican tradition that followed the Ottoman Empire and the founding of the modern Turkish state in the early 20th century.

Cumhuriyet is also the name of a major Turkish daily newspaper established in Istanbul on 7 May 1924. It was founded by Yunus Nadi Abalıoğlu and others as a voice for republican reforms and secular governance, aligning with the reforms of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the early Republican era. The newspaper has historically promoted liberal, secular, and progressive perspectives and has played a significant role in Turkish public discourse.

Over the decades, Cumhuriyet has been published by the Cumhuriyet Foundation and has earned a reputation for investigative reporting and editorial independence. It has faced political pressure and prosecutions of editors and journalists at various times, reflecting the broader challenges to press freedom in Turkey. Despite these pressures, it has remained a prominent platform for news, opinion, and culture, often taking a stance critical of policy directions and social issues.

Today, Cumhuriyet publishes in Turkish and operates a print edition alongside an online edition, serving readers in Turkey and abroad. It is regarded as one of the country’s oldest and most influential newspapers, continuing the tradition associated with the concept of cumhuriyet as representative of popular sovereignty and secular republican values.