Pinar Selek, a Turkish activist, has been fighting for several years for various causes. Interested particularly in oppressed groups and marginalized people, she becomes a victim of the repression faced by intellectuals in Turkey and was imprisoned in 1998.
She now lives in exile in France, where she has published several books, including fiction, tales, essays, and articles. The Turkish Military Cauldron: An Example of the Production of Male Violence (2023) was published in Spain, where Pinar Selek received the Veu Lliure Award 2024. The Free Voice Award is given to an author who has endured captivity or persecution because of their writings or who has shown a determined stance in favor of defending freedom of expression.
An Engaged Sociologist
Born in 1971 in Istanbul, Pinar Selek, a sociologist specializing in the Kurdish issue, is an emblematic figure in the fight for academic freedom and justice in Turkey. Arrested in 1998 for refusing to disclose the identities of activists interviewed as part of her research, she was wrongfully accused of the Istanbul Spice Bazaar bombing, even though investigations demonstrated an accidental gas explosion. Imprisoned and tortured for two and a half years, Pinar Selek faces relentless judicial persecution despite her multiple acquittals (2006, 2008, 2011, 2014).
Exiled in 2008, first to Germany and then to France, she obtained French nationality in 2017 and teaches at the University of Côte d’Azur in Nice. However, in 2022, the Turkish Supreme Court annulled her latest acquittal, reopening the case with an international arrest warrant. These proceedings severely hinder her academic and travel freedom.
Despite these obstacles, a vast campaign of international solidarity is mobilizing to demand a fair trial and Pinar Selek’s release. Supporters hope she will finally regain her freedom to work and express herself freely.
Support Movements
For years, she has been the target of relentless judicial persecution by the Turkish state. In response to this injustice, numerous demonstrations of support have been organized to defend Pinar Selek. These include press conferences and gatherings, notably in Nice, bringing together political figures like Christian Estrosi, university presidents, and loyal supporters. These events have allowed the activist to publicly denounce the judicial harassment she faces.
Moreover, international solidarity campaigns have been conducted by organizations such as the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), and the Human Rights League (LDH). These organizations have called for an end to judicial harassment and for a fair trial to be held.
Academic support has also been crucial. Institutions such as University of Côte d’Azur, Paris-Cité University, and University of Strasbourg have expressed their solidarity with Pinar Selek and have offered their protection and academic support.
Jean-Luc Roméro presented, on behalf of Anne Hidalgo, the Grand Vermeil Medal of Paris to Pinar Selek on March 29, 2023. Jeanne Barseghian, Mayor of Strasbourg, praised Ms. Selek’s courage by awarding her the Medal of the City of Strasbourg in July 2024. The city of Grenoble also honored the courageous sociologist by presenting her with the city’s medal on February 1, 2025.
