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Turkish Author On Trial
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| 1. |
10 Sep 2006 Sun 09:20 pm |
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I have spent two days trying to find a professor to supervise my language study in Istanbul next summer. I finally found the perfect person (so it seems) with persuasions and interests similar to my own.
She is Turkish and her name is: Dr. Elif Shafak. I received an e-mail from a colleague about her just moments after I composed a letter to her.
Currently (she is only 35) she is at the University of Arizona, and has published a half a dozen novels.
She is being put on trial (and may go to jail for up to 3 years) for writing against Turkey in her book : The Bastard of Istanbul. She is pregnant for the first time and due to deliver in two weeks, and her request for a postponement was denied.
She is currently in Istanbul.
Does anyone know anything of this author or why she is critiqued so ?
Thank you,
Christine
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| 2. |
11 Sep 2006 Mon 12:01 am |
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WOW! She is great!!
I haven't read her books yet, but I did read their reviews and interviews with her. Her view of Türkiye seems to be so clear! From what I read, it is one of the persons I would write a letter to after I read their book  She seems to have an intelligent view of Türkiye, in which there is both space for love and critizism. In the interview I liked her way of talking, 'straight through sea' as we call it: talking clearly and not avoiding certain aspects.
She's been accused because in one of her FICTIONAL NOVELS (well they are based upon true facts, but still!!) one of the characters says something that would harm Türkiye!
I haven't read it, but I find it ridiculous that an author can be put in such a position for what one of the persons in his/her book says! If it would've been her own idea, which she said so herself in an interview or something, I would not even be able to understand it, let alone that it's a fictional character!
I haven't got time to read it now but if I can't find it in English in Izmir, i'll wait and read it in Turkish!
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| 3. |
11 Sep 2006 Mon 12:15 am |
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Quote: If it would've been her own idea, which she said so herself in an interview or something, I would not even be able to understand it, let alone that it's a fictional character!
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Couldn't it be possible that she had the character say what she wanted to say, but didn't dare?
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| 4. |
11 Sep 2006 Mon 01:53 am |
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Very possible. But, isn't that what "fiction" novels are for- to play out perhaps authors desires, wishes, wants, dreams, thoughts...etc...?
How can a novel go on trial in the free world?
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| 5. |
11 Sep 2006 Mon 02:06 am |
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Any person might have wanted to open a trial. Every person has the right to go to the court for anything. It does not mean the author in question will get a penalty for that.
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| 6. |
11 Sep 2006 Mon 02:15 am |
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Quoting qdemir: Every person has the right to go to the court for anything. |
Really???
Is this true in Turkia???
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| 7. |
11 Sep 2006 Mon 02:37 am |
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I guess I expressed myself wrong.
For example: You can not go to the court for anything which goes against the constitution or other laws.
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| 8. |
11 Sep 2006 Mon 02:36 pm |
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Quoting qdemir: Quote: If it would've been her own idea, which she said so herself in an interview or something, I would not even be able to understand it, let alone that it's a fictional character!
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Couldn't it be possible that she had the character say what she wanted to say, but didn't dare? |
Ofcourse, but isn't that really the power of a novel? Besides, some things and thoughts need to be said/expressed in order to create a constructive discussion about a certain topic. And for that matter it doesn't even really matter if the discussion is fictional.
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