Sixth book from detained author explores lives of society’s marginalized
Botan Times, 04/11/2025
Dipnot Publishing has announced the forthcoming release of “Jamal,” a new novel by Selahattin Demirtaş, the imprisoned Kurdish politician and author. The 160-page book tells the story of people living on the streets and marks his sixth literary work since being incarcerated.
Demirtaş, 52, has been held in Edirne F-Type Prison since November 4, 2016. The novel, was written during his detention and presents the street as a metaphor for freedom and as a refuge for those who have been cast out from society.
The Novel’s Premise
According to the publisher’s summary, the story begins with an encounter near a trash container: “I met him by a garbage bin; he was shy and modest. It was clear from his every movement that he was hungry, yet he hesitated whether to search through the garbage… I offered him food I had found in the trash; he hesitated, his eyes welled up, his throat tightened.”
The book examines the lives of people who struggle to survive, those who have nowhere else to go, and individuals who are ground down by a merciless system. It also explores the importance of sharing bread and the meaning of the street as a place of freedom.
In Demirtaş’s words, “Listening to the ‘voice’ of the street is not the essential thing; becoming that ‘voice’ yourself is what matters. The street is freedom because freedom resides in the street.” For those who have fallen, been exiled, or been displaced, the street becomes their final refuge.
A Life in Politics and Prison
Born on April 10, 1973, in Palu, Elazığ to a Zaza Kurdish family, Demirtaş moved with his family to Diyarbakır when he was young. He graduated from Ankara University Law School and worked as a lawyer and director of the Human Rights Association in Diyarbakır before entering politics. He is also one of the founders of the Diyarbakır branch of Amnesty International and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey.
Demirtaş served as co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) between 2014 and 2018. He ran for president in 2014, receiving 9.76% of the vote, and again in 2018 while in prison, garnering 8.40%. In recent years, he has been sentenced to a total of 42 years in prison, including 28 years in the Kobani case.
In 2023, Demirtaş announced his withdrawal from active politics. He is married to Başak, and they have two daughters, Delal (born 2004) and Dılda (born 2007). His family calls him by the nickname “Eser.” On December 31, 2023, Demirtaş lost his father, Tahir Demirtaş, who died at the age of 78.
Literary Career Behind Bars
Demirtaş began writing books after his imprisonment. His first book, “Seher” (Dawn), was published on September 16, 2017. His works include:
- “Seher” (2017): His first book written in prison
- “Devran” (2019): Published by İletişim Publishing
- “Leylan” (2020): Published by Dipnot Publishing
- “Efsun” (2021): Published by Dipnot Publishing
- “DAD” (2023): His most recent novel before “Jamal”
He also co-authored the book “Arafta Düet” (Duet in Limbo) with Yiğit Bener. Demirtaş has received two awards: the Progressive Alliance Award (Courage Award) in 2019 in Sweden and the Weimar Human Rights Award in 2021 in Germany.
“Jamal” is expected to take its place in contemporary Turkish literature and to be recognized as an important novel.
Botan Times
Sources: Dipnot, Wikipedia
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