Perihan Mağden

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Perihan Mağden (born 1960) is a Turkish writer of prose and poetry and is a columnist for the newspaper Radikal. She was tried and acquitted on July 27th 2006 in Turkey for calling for opening the possibility of conscientious objection to mandatory military service in that country. Her prosecution has been criticized by human rights groups around the world and comes several months after a Turkish court dropped a case against Turkish writer Elif Shafak, who had been charged with "insulting Turkishness" in her novel The Bastard of Istanbul.[1] Her arrest is seen as complicating Turkey's negotiations for membership with the European Union.[2]

Contents

[edit] Life

Mağden was born in 1960 in Istanbul. After graduating from Robert College of Istanbul, She pursued her education at Istanbul's prestigious Boğaziçi University, Department of Psychology. She has spent some time at Yaddo, the famous artists' community.[2] Mağden is a single mother and raising their 12-year-old daughter by herself, supported only by what she earns as a writer.[3]

She lives in Istanbul.

[edit] Writings

Internationally-renowned Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk has called Mağden "one of the most inventive and outspoken writers of our time."[3] According to Pamuk, "The way (Mağden) twists and turns the Turkish language, the delight she takes in the thrust and pull of popular culture, and her brilliant forays into subjects that everyone thinks about and then decides not to put into words, 'just in case'--these have earned her the love of her readers and the respect of her fellow writers."[3]

In addition to writing editorial columns for Turkish newspapers, Mağden has also published fictional novels and a collection of poetry. Mağden's novel İki Genç Kızın Romanı (2 Girls), published in 2005 by Serpent's Tail, was praised for pushing "Turkish beyond its conventional literary patterns" and compared to J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye for the way she had captured adolescent anguish.[4]

[edit] Arrest and trial

Mağden was prosecuted by the Turkish government in relation to a December 2005 column in the weekly news magazine Yeni Aktuel. In the column she strongly defended the actions of Mehmet Tarhan, a young Turkish man jailed for his refusal to perform military service, which in Turkey is mandatory.[5] In this column, entitled "Conscientious Objection is a Human Right," Mağden stated that the United Nations, of which Turkey is a member, acknowledges conscientious objection as a human right.[3]

In response to the column, the Turkish military accused her of attempting to turn the Turkish people against military service and filed a complaint against her.[6] A warrant was issued for her arrest in April 2006 and her trial was in late July; the most severe sentence she could have faced if convicted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code was three years' imprisonment. Under Turkish law, there is no provision for conscientious objection to mandatory military service.[1]

When asked about her situation, Mağden replied, "It's shocking that they are putting me on trial. I've no idea what will happen. The case could finish tomorrow or it could stretch on and on. The unnerving thing about the courts is they are so unpredictable, it's like a lottery. It's torture."[7]

She was acquitted July 27, 2006. The court found in her favour, ruling that her opinions were covered by the freedom of expression and were not a crime under the Turkish penal code.[8]

Mağden was one of several journalists and writers who were charged in court recently by prosecutors because their writings "threaten Turkey’s unity or the integrity of the state."[2]

[edit] Reaction to arrest

Mağden's arrest has been condemned by human rights and writing organizations both within Turkey and around the world.[5] In a show of support for Mağden, newspapers in Turkey have republished the column that led to criminal charges against her.[9]

In addition, the prosecution of Mağden was closely watched by the European Union, which is in negotiations with Turkey over that country's possible membership in the organization.[2]

[edit] Bibliography (partial)

  • Haberci Çocuk Cinayetleri (Messenger Boy Murders), 1991
  • Refakatçi (The Companion), novel, 1994
  • Mutfak Kazaları (Kitchen Accidents). poetry collection, 1995
  • Hiç Bunları Kendine Dert Etmeye Değer mi? (Is it Worth Bothering With These?), 1997
  • Kapı Açık Arkanı Dön ve Çık (Turn Around and Walk Out the Door), 1998
  • Fakat Ne Yazık ki Sokak Boştu (Unfortunately, However, The Street was Empty), 1999
  • İki Genç Kızın Romanı (2 Girls), novel, 2002
  • "Politik Yazılar" (Political Essays), Essays, 2006
  • Biz Kimden Kaçıyorduk Anne? (Who Were We Running From, Mother?), novel, 2007

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Turkish writer in call-up trial," BBC News, June 7, 2006, Accessed June 7, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d "Turkish journalist in court for 'undermining armed forces'" by Vincent Boland, Financial Times, June 7, 2006, accessed June 7, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c d "A question of conscience: Orhan Pamuk defends Turkey's wittiest and most controversial female columnist" by Orhan Pamuk, The Guardian Unlimited, Books Section, June 3, 2006, accessed June 7, 2006.
  4. ^ Review of 2 Girls, by Perihan Mağden (trans by Brendan Freely), by Alev Adil, The Independent, November 9, 2005, accessed June 7, 2006.
  5. ^ a b PEN Writers In Prison page about Mağden. Accessed June 7, 2006
  6. ^ "The Perihan Magden case" by Alev Adil, New Statesman, Accessed June 7, 2006.
  7. ^ "Leading Turkish writer faces jail after incurring wrath of military" by Peter Popham, The Independent, June 7, 2006, accessed June 8, 2006.
  8. ^ "Turk court acquits author over remarks on military", Reuters, July 27, 2006.
  9. ^ Mağden’s case puts Turkey’s conscience on trial Turkish Daily News, June 7, 2006, accessed June 7, 2006.

[edit] External links

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