A Turkish court has once again banned Gültan Kışanak’s book, “The Colour Purple of Kurdish Politics,” as well as “Daughters of Kobani” by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, on grounds of alleged “propaganda for an [illegal] organisation”. This decision by İzmir Criminal Court of Peace No.4 follows a request from the İzmir Chief State Prosecutor’s Office, drawing criticism over censorship and rights to free speech in the country.
The controversy began on 6 October 2023, when former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) İzmir Branch Co-chair Berna Çelik was detained, and the books were confiscated from her home. The Prosecutor’s Office subsequently sought a ban and seizure of all copies, a request the court granted.
Kışanak’s book, which chronicles the experiences of women in local and national politics who have faced imprisonment, explores their challenges and resistance against a male-dominated political system. “Daughters of Kobani,” penned by American journalist Lemmon, documents the stories of women fighting against ISIS in Kobani (Kobanê).
This latest ban is particularly contentious as it comes after a previous prohibition on Kışanak’s book by İzmir Criminal Court of Peace No.2 was overturned on appeal. The reinstatement of the ban raises questions about the consistency of legal decisions regarding freedom of expression in Turkey and highlights the ongoing struggle for Kurdish voices in literature and politics.
