Photo: Zeynel Abidin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in France · Nationality Turkish — Culture / literature / human rights

Elif Şafak

Documented profile covering 6 controversies, including “Article 301 trial over fictional characters' remarks in The Bastard of Istanbul, followed by acquittal” and “2014 press campaign accusing her and Orhan Pamuk of being a "Western project"”.

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Profile No. 0453 · Updated on 12 October 2026

6Documented controversies

12Sources

1Formal charge · all time1 closed without conviction

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2024-2025

Bit Palas: civil judgment finding partial plagiarism followed by dismissal of appeal in 2025

Civil / administrative proceedings

In litigation brought by Mine Kırıkkanat, a court ruled in 2024 that part of Bit Palas went beyond mere inspiration and contained similarities with Sinek Sarayı, relying on an expert report. In November 2025, the appeals by Şafak and Doğan Kitap were dismissed according to the decision report.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Duvar EnglishTurkish court rules renowned novelist Elif Shafak plagiarized from another novelMediaHigh reliability
[2]
T24Elif Şafak ve Mine Kırıkkanat'ın intihal davasında istinaf talebine retMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 20 August 2026

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2025

Ekrem İmamoğlu's 2025 arrest: public denunciation of democratic decline and support for demonstrations

No legal proceedings

Following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Şafak published an opinion piece arguing that imprisoning Erdoğan's main political rival threatened the ballot box and symbolised a new stage of democratic decline. She welcomed demonstrations led in particular by young people and women.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: Not applicable
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Financial TimesElif Shafak on why Turkey's youth-led protests offer hopeopinionHigh reliability
[2]
T24Elif Şafak, Financial Times'a yazdı: Gençlik değişim istiyorMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 20 August 2026

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2019-2024

Investigations into novels depicting sexual abuse, prostitution and violence

Investigation

Turkish prosecutors examined several of Şafak's novels, including The Gaze and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, following social media campaigns denouncing passages depicting sexual abuse, prostitution and violence. Şafak described the phenomenon as a "witch-hunt" against writers.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
The GuardianTurkey puts novelists including Elif Shafak under investigationMediaHigh reliability
[2]
The GuardianElif Shafak: 'As a writer in Turkey, you can be attacked, put on trial, imprisoned'MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 20 August 2026

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2021

Withdrawal from Istanbul Convention: Şafak's public opposition and confrontation with conservative rhetoric

No legal proceedings

Şafak strongly condemned Erdoğan's decision to withdraw Turkey from the Istanbul Convention, arguing that it placed women at greater risk in a country affected by femicides and domestic violence. Conservative voices close to the government publicly challenged her figures and arguments.

State of the evidence: Documented
Legal status — source text: Not applicable
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 3

[1]
Al JazeeraThousands protest Turkey’s exit from domestic violence treatyMediaHigh reliability
[2]
Daily SabahWhy did Turkey withdraw from the Istanbul Convention?Medium reliability
[3]
Council of EuropeGender equality and the Istanbul Convention: a decade of actionOfficial documentPrimary source

Last verified: 20 August 2026

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2014

2014 press campaign accusing her and Orhan Pamuk of being a "Western project"

No legal proceedings

Pro-government newspapers and columnists accused Şafak and Orhan Pamuk of benefiting from an "international literary lobby", describing their success as the product of Western networks hostile to Turkey. Şafak denounced a campaign of hatred and disinformation.

State of the evidence: Reported by the press
Legal status — source text: Not applicable
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
The GuardianOrhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak attacked in Turkish press campaignMediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 20 August 2026

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2006

Article 301 trial over fictional characters' remarks in The Bastard of Istanbul, followed by acquittal

Acquitted / conviction overturned

Elif Şafak was prosecuted for "insulting Turkishness" because of statements made by Armenian characters in her novel The Bastard of Istanbul. The trial, brought following nationalist complaints, ended in her acquittal in September 2006.

Legal status — source text: Acquitted / conviction overturned
Attribution: Directly implicated
Course of the proceedings: Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Sources · 2

[1]
The GuardianNovelist to go on trial for insulting TurkeyMediaHigh reliability
[2]
PEN AmericaAuthor Elif Shafak Acquitted in TurkeyHigh reliability

Last verified: 20 August 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

Linked profile (portrait or initials) — click to open it
Line width: number of documented references
Hover over or tap a line: controversies and sources

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

List of documented links (2)

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.