Perihan Mağden

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 for calling for opening the possibility of conscientious objection to mandatory military service in Turkey.

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. [cite web|url=ftp://ftp.yaddo.org/Yaddo/writers082006.pdf|title=Yaddo Writers: June, 1926–August, 2006|accessdate=2008-07-30|pages=pg.11] Mağden is a single mother, supported by her writing, who lives in Istanbul with her 12-year-old daughter.cite news|last=Pamuk|first=Orhan|archivedate=2006-06-03|archiveurl=http://www.network54.com/Forum/273491/message/1149379961/|title=A question of conscience|work=Guardian, Books Section|date=2006-06-03|url=http://books.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1789061,00.html|accessdate=2008-07-20]

Work

Turkey's leading writer, Orhan Pamuk, has called Mağden "one of the most inventive and outspoken writers of our time." 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."

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" ("Two 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. [Adil, Alev. [http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article325864.ece Review of 2 Girls, by Perihan Mağden] (translated by Brendan Freely), "Independent", November 9, 2005, accessed June 7, 2006.]

Arrest and trial

Mağden was prosecuted by the Turkish government in relation to a December 2005 column in the weekly news magazine "Yeni Aktuel". [cite news|first=Perihan|last=Mağden|title=Vicdani Red Bir İnsan Hakkıdır|work=bianet|date=2006-06-07|url=http://www.bianet.org/bianet/kategori/kadin/80142/vicdani-red-bir-insan-hakkidir|language=Turkish|accessdate=2008-07-20] In the column she strongly defended the actions of Mehmet Tarhan, a young Turkish man jailed for his refusal to perform mandatory military service. In this column, titled "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.

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. [cite news
url=http://www.newstatesman.com/200605080047
accessdate=2008-07-24
work=New Statesman
title=Commentary
first=Alev
last=Adil
date=2006-05-08] 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.

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." [Popham, Peter. " [http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article656447.ece Leading Turkish writer faces jail after incurring wrath of military] ", "Independent", June 7, 2006, accessed June 8, 2006.]

She was acquitted July 27, 2006. The court ruled in her favour, asserting that her opinions were covered by the freedom of expression and were not a crime under the Turkish penal code. [ [http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/75961 Perihan Mağden Acquitted] - IFEX] Mağden is one of several journalists and writers charged for "threatening Turkey’s unity or the integrity of the state."Boland, Vincent. " [http://news.ft.com/cms/s/b4570dca-f644-11da-b09f-0000779e2340.html Turkish journalist in court for 'undermining armed forces'] ", "Financial Times", June 7, 2006.]

The next year, she received a fourteen month suspended sentence for insulting Aytac Gul, then governor of Yuksekova.cite web
url=http://www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/writersunderthreat/turkey/perihanmagden/
accessdate=2008-07-24
title=Perihan Magden
work=Writers in Prison
publisher=English Pen]

Reaction to arrest

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 Şafak, who had been charged with "insulting Turkishness" in her novel "The Bastard of Istanbul"." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5054732.stm Turkish writer in call-up trial] ", "BBC News", June 7, 2006.] In a show of support for Mağden, newspapers in Turkey have republished the column that led to criminal charges against her. [Kart, Emine. " [http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=45530 Mağden’s case puts Turkey’s conscience on trial] ," "Turkish Daily News", June 7, 2006.]

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. Her arrest is seen as complicating the negotiations.

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" (Two Girls), novel, 2002
* "Politik Yazılar" (Political Essays), Essays, 2006
* "Biz Kimden Kaçıyorduk Anne?" (Who Were We Running From, Mother?), novel, 2007

Essays

* " [http://www.wordswithoutborders.org/article.php?lab=CourageDoesNotReign Courage Does Not Reign] ". Translated from the Turkish by Alin Ince.
* " [http://www.wordswithoutborders.org/article.php?lab=TheSecretMeanings The Secret Meanings of Unappreciated Words] ". Translated from the Turkish by Cem Yegül.

References

External links

* [http://www.radikal.com.tr/yazar_arsiv.php?yazarno=68 Columns for "Radikal"] tr icon