Sarajevo cancels decision to honour writer Orhan Pamuk

Writer Orhan Pamuk, Nobel laureate who is a vocal critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was nominated to be honoured for writing the war scenario in Bosnia.

But the city of Sarajevo has abandoned plans to make Orhan Pamuk an honourary <x0 urban> of Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital, while critics say it was done out of fear of insulting Turkey.

Pamuk was nominated to be honoured by the local publisher and library Buybook, which suggested that Nobel laureate become Sarajevo's <x0 city honourary” while planning to visit the city this spring working on the scenario for Bosnia during the war. According to Buybook Director Damir Usunovic, while the council's commission initially voted seven to zero to make the Turkish author an honorary citizen, a second vote had refused Pamuk's candidacy by voting four to three.

“The explanation of the council commission was that Orhan Pamuk did nothing or almost anything for the city of Sarajevo. Some members from the ruling party estimated that Mr. Pamuk's decoration could provoke the ire of Turkey's current government. They used this opportunity to send a message to Pamuk ... that he is not welcome in Sarajevo”, Uzunovic said.

We have declared Orhan Pamuk to be one of the most important contemporary writers and that none of the current Nobel laureates has ever come to Sarajevo. Pamuk is the most read and famous writer in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and as his exclusive editor for BiH, we have invited Pamuk to visit Sarajevo some times”.

Pamuk is a controversial figure in Turkey, where he has faced prison for “rendering Turkish things”. According to the French News Agency, which for the first time reported on the verdict, Bakir Izetbegovic, who heads the ruling SDA party, is close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Samir Fazlic of the opposition party ésa Strankaı told AFP that the second result of the vote was due to “against Turkish President Erdogan's policy” by Pamuk and “fears... from Erdogan”.

The Sarajevo Mayor's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Pamuk's change of view was also criticised by the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “These gentlemen in power were chosen to be the fathers of the city of Sarajevo, but they behave as babies to a small village of Erdogan”, spokesman Malik Garib said.

“I am sure that Turkey is our friendly country and that Turks are a friendly people for us, so I am sure that they will be rejected by such gestures as any good friend would. A friend would freeze us and not allow us to kneel before him”, Garib said.

I hope Orhan Pamuk becomes an honorary citizen of our city. The great books he has written make him one of the most famous Turks and one of the greatest writers in history, and we will be honored to have him as a fellow citizen. These political riots are temporary and will surely pass, but such amazing writings will continue to exist long after all these political projects have been forgotten. Both Sarajevo and Orhan Pamuk's writings are wonderful parts of human history and will certainly stay there together, unlike the current city authorities and their shameful decisions”.

He added that the SDP would require that the “case be resolved” by the city council”, but I fear it is already too late and that the city is already ashamed, the damage to Sarajevo's reputation has been done once such news has taken over”.

Taken from “The Guardian”.

You can read the scripture in the original Here..