Turcophobia

Sunday, October 15, 2006

A Dutch journalist asks: You were tried in Turkey in accordance with Article 301 for statements made by an Armenian character in your novel. What do you think of the dismissal of Turkish candidates in Holland for not recognizing “genocide"?

Elif Şafak

  A Dutch journalist asks: "You were tried in Turkey in accordance with Article 301 for statements made by an Armenian character in your novel. What do you think of the dismissal of Turkish candidates in Holland for not recognizing genocide ?"

  “I am following it with concern,” I say. “I am concerned with what is happening in France and Holland. I hope they soon correct their mistakes. If we are for freedom of expression, there can t be any double standards. Freedom of expression is a universal value. If I am criticizing article 301 for limiting freedom of expression, I am also fully opposed to the genocide law France is trying to pass and the developments in Holland for the same reason. Such actions only benefit the extreme nationalists on both sides. It can only make them more radical. It will also tie the hands of those peaceful people trying to increase friendship and empathy between Armenians and Turks and make both sides better understand each other. It will demolish the bridges between the both sides. It can only cause damage.”

  If the state or statesmen start writing a single version of history, while trying to quell alternative opinions, both freedom of expression will suffer and freedom to think. This is exactly what the French state is doing and it is very dangerous. Politicians cannot write history. There are serious consequences to politicians exploiting history to increase their votes.

  In the book “Bastard of Istanbul,” I concentrated on the memories of Armenian and Turkish women, their stories and family secrets. I was interested in local, individual, micro-histories rather than huge debates and macro-histories. I wrote a novel with human beings, common suffering and values at the center. As a writer, my work involves stories of individuals. I collect forgotten stories. I always hope our stories never disappear. I want our voices and faces being protected against the ravages of time. I wrote a novel that fed on the Turkish and Armenian grandmothers adventures. It traveled between “memory and memory loss” and showed the common characters of the two peoples, rather than their differences. It is fed by friendships rather than enmity. I am for every individual period of history being freely discussed anytime and anywhere. More importantly, I believe I need to defend the freedom of expression of those who don t think like me. While I believe the term “genocide” is deceptive and prefer not to use it, I believe neither those who say: “Yes. There was a genocide” in Turkey, nor those who say: “No. There was no genocide” in France should be banned or silenced. Readers, citizens and individuals need to freely listen to all opinions. They should decide on their own. Those who think otherwise either want to inspect what the people think or dismiss the people as inconsequential.

  There is an increasing Turcophobia (Fear of Turks) in Europe. As Turkey moves closer to the European Union, those who are against this integration, both in Turkey and in Europe, have sharpened their reflexes.

  There is a question Turkey needs to ask itself in the near future. “Do you want the Turkey we will leave to our children a place that s not frightened of different opinions, self confident, not wasteful of its potential or people, an EU member, democratic and dynamic country that shows to the entire world that Islam and Western democracy can coexist, or a country that is governed by fear, a victim of polarization, isolated, tense and aggressive?”

  A similar question needs to be asked by Europeans. “Do we want to win over or lose Turkey?” Unfortunately, answers to these questions will determine the outcome the increasing fear of Islam and Turks gripping Europe. There are two visions Europe faces. One is multicultural and democratic and the other feeds on fears and prejudices. There are also two visions for Turkey.