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18/11/2005
Turkish author Pamuk wins French literary award
Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, who is accused of public discussion of the Armenian Genocide and problems of Kurds, thus damaging Turkey's image, has won a prestigious French foreign literature prize.
Pamuk was awarded the Prix Medicis for his latest novel, Snow, which is about the homecoming of a poet who returns to Istanbul after years in exile in Germany.
The 53-year-old author is facing a possible jail term on charges of denigrating Turkish national identity, for telling a Swiss newspaper that one million Armenians were killed under Ottoman rule.
Pamuk received a series of death threats after the interview was published, forcing him to flee the country.
He recently told the Observer. "I said loud and clear that one million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds were killed in Turkey, and I stand by that. For me, these are scholarly issues," he said. "I am a novelist. I address human suffering and pain, and it is obvious, even in Turkey, that there was an immense hidden pain which we now have to face."
A trial date has been set for December 16.
Bibliofemme reviews: Snow by Orhan Pamuk
Bibliofemme news: Pamuk faces jail in Turkey after genocide allegations
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