Turkish literature
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Interview with Turkish author Elif Shafak
Democracy in a downward spiral
In interview with Sabine Peschel, best-selling Turkish author Elif Shafak warns against the disintegration of democratic values and the rise of authoritarianism in Turkey and across Europe
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Interview with the Turkish author Baris Uygur
"Even we're lost for words sometimes"
With a circulation of around 80,000, ″Uykusuz″ is Turkey's most popular satirical magazine. Writer Baris Uygur is one of its publishers. Here he talks to Ceyda Nurtsch about satirical magazines in Turkey, getting around censorship regulations and the popularity of crime fiction
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The #siirsokakta movement in Turkey
The poem is on the street
In the wake of the Gezi protests – and through interaction with social media – a movement arose in Turkey that inspired people to write, spray and scrawl snippets of poetry on all kinds of surfaces in public spaces. It became a vibrant part of literary life in Turkey. By Achim Wagner
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Arabic bookshop in Istanbul
"We want to be a cultural centre"
The first Arabic bookshop in Istanbul opened its doors in June. It is run by Syrian refugees, together with Turkish publishers. They want the shop to become a meeting place for Arabs and Turks. It already offers much more than just Arabic literature. Ekrem Guzeldere took a look around "Pages"
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Book review: Orhan Pamuk's novel "A Strangeness in my mind"
A journey through time to a lost world
Opinion in Turkey is divided over Orhan Pamuk. For some, the Nobel laureate is a shining star among Turkish writers. Others view him as a plagiarist and even denounce him as a traitor. His new novel has once again fanned the flames of the debate concerning the author and his work. Ceyda Nurtsch read the book
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Artists in Turkey
Artists against Erdogan's censorship
Turkey welcomes private investors in the fields of art and culture, but artists feel oppressed by the government. Beyond censorship and commercial speculation, an alternative art scene offers some hope. Ceyda Nurtsch presents them.
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Obituary: the Turkish writer Yasar Kemal
Poet, rebel and folk hero
He was one of the most important voices in contemporary Turkish literature. All his life, Yasar Kemal campaigned for human rights and peace. Now the well-known author has died. An obituary by Sabine Damaschke
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The "Museum of Crimes of Thought"
Novel weapon in the fight for freedom of expression
The people behind the recently launched online "Museum of Thought Crimes" hope to raise awareness of the suppression of freedom of speech and the persecution of intellectuals in Turkey and beyond. Ceyda Nurtsch talked to one of the project's initiators, Sanar Yurdatapan
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Interview with Turkish author Murathan Mungan
"Politics needs a new language"
Murathan Mungan is one of Turkey's most famous authors. His works deal with topics such as the Kurdish conflict, political Islam and gender issues. Ceyda Nurtsch spoke to him about language, identity and political resistance
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Book review: "Embers" by Murat Uyurkulak
The oddballs of Ominosia
The Turkish writer Murat Uyurkulak's novel "Glut" (roughly translatable as "Embers") is a socially critical allegory of his homeland. Although not available in English, it has recently been published in German translation. Ceyda Nurtsch reports on a book that to the astonishment of its author has escaped the sharp eye of the censors in Turkey
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A literary anthology of the Gezi protests
Gezi lives!
In "Gezi – A Literary Anthology", a volume of essays that was recently published in German, 19 Turkish authors and a photographer reflect on the motivation and dynamics of the Gezi movement. By Astrid Kaminski
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Portrait of the Turkish writer Emrah Serbes
"Politics is made on the street by the people"
The young author Emrah Serbes is regarded as the "enfant terrible" of Turkish literature. Not only is he one of the most popular authors in Turkey: since the protests in Gezi Park last summer and his active participation in the resistance, many now seen him as the "writer and voice of the people". Ceyda Nurtsch met him at a reading in Berlin