World Poetry Day 2019 - Take Action for Nedim Türfent
‘Dear PEN Members, we would like to express our eternal gratitude for every act of solidarity that you have carried out so far or you plan to in the future. While some people try to stifle our pens with a pile of grave earth, we will continue to hold them and produce. We would like to remind you that when the taste of solidarity is still within the reach of our hands, we will continue to write our reports, stories, novels and poems, line by line, letter by letter.’
Nedim Türfent, 25 December 2018
News editor, reporter and poet Nedim Türfent is serving an eight years and nine months prison sentence on trumped-up terrorism charges following an unfair trial, during which scores of witnesses said they had been tortured into testifying against him. Prior to his arrest, Nedim Türfent was covering Turkish military operations in southeast Turkey. He spent almost two years in solidarity confinement in harrowing detention conditions. His sentence was upheld on 19 June 2018 and his appeal is pending before Turkey’s Constitutional Court. PEN International believes that Nedim Türfent is being imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
TAKE ACTION
Translate Nedim Türfent’s poetry
Nedim Türfent started composing poetry while detained. To celebrate World Poetry Day, we encourage PEN Centres to translate the following poem ("Let my heart five life") into their own language. We will then collate all translations and send him an anthology.
Please note the poem is already available in English (translation by Barış Altıntaş, Media and Law Studies Association) and Dutch (translation by Sytske Sötemann, PEN Netherlands).
Read translations by PEN Centres and PEN supporters below:
yeryüzü olmuş yüreğin iksir akıtsın
damarlara toprağa bereket getirsin
Kaf Dağı’nın ardındaki pınarlardan.
toplanan ekinlerin
sadakası dahi
yaşamın gümüşî anahtarı olsun.
köylüye
marabaya
ırgata
deva olsun yüreğin
darda olana
reva olsun.
merhem sürsün
kuşların kırık kanatlarına
göz kulak olsun
imece usulü çalışan karıncalara
fedakar olsun.
cömert olsun yüreğin
kelebeklere yaşayacak fazladan bir gün versin.
yaşam kaynağı olsun
ana rahmi misali.
ve en nihayetinde berrak olsun yüreğin
su renginde.
kuruyanı yeşertsin her daim.
süt emsin güneşin apak memesinden
ve emzirsin ihtiyacı olanı.
yaşamın sihirli iksiriyle
can versin yüreğin
cansız kalana…
Send appeals:
Urging the Turkish authorities to release Nedim Türfent immediately and unconditionally;
Calling on the Turkish authorities to end the prosecution and detention of journalists simply on the basis of the content of their writing or alleged affiliations, and to immediately release all those held in prison for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion and expression.
Write to:
Minister of Justice
Abdulhamit Gül
Ministry of Justice
Adalet Bakanlığı
06659 Ankara
Turkey
Send copies to the Embassy of Turkey in your own country. Embassy addresses may be found here: https://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/turkey.
Please reach out to your Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic representatives in Turkey, calling on them to raise Nedim Türfent’s case in bilateral fora.
Publicity
PEN members are encouraged to:
Publish articles and opinion pieces in your national or local press highlighting the case of Nedim Türfent and freedom of expression in Turkey;
Share information about Nedim Türfent and your campaigning activities via social media;
Organise public events and poetry readings highlighting Nedim Türfent’s writings and plight.
Solidarity
In February 2019, over 650 writers, journalists, publishers, artists and activists signed an appeal calling for Nedim Türfent’s immediate and unconditional release. The appeal is now open for public signature. Add your name here.
In a letter written on 25 December 2018, Nedim Türfent thanks PEN members for their solidarity campaign and reiterated his determination to keep writing:
‘The invaluable solidarity campaign you have initiated has honoured us all, making our forehead reach the stars, and negating the meaning of the idiom ‘out of sight, out of heart’. Such meaningful campaigns will enable us to surpass the curtains that block the word, overcome the shadows cast over the charm of life and enable us to overcome together the cold locks that restrict our pens. We will not kneel, and we will leave a drop of our verses on every page of life.’
Please keep sending solidarity messages of solidarity in English, German, Turkish or Kurdish, to:
Nedim Türfent
Van Yüksek Güvenlikli
Kapalı Ceza İnfaz Kurumu
Koğuş A-44
Van
Turkey
Consider electing Nedim Türfent as an honorary member of your Centre.
We further encourage Centres to send him books and magazines.
Background
A news editor and reporter at the pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency (DİHA), Nedim Türfent was arrested on 12 May 2016 after covering clashes between the Turkish army and the armed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the predominantly Kurdish southeast of Turkey. He had notably received the prestigious Musa Anter journalism award for a story covering a military operation in the Kurdish city of Yüksekova, where a group of soldiers reportedly handcuffed and pinned 50 villagers face down, yelling slurs such as ‘you will witness the power of the Turk’.
Nedim Türfent spent nearly two years in solidarity confinement, during which time he was transferred to several prisons. In a letter addressed to Turkish columnists and dated 8 May 2017, he reported harrowing detention conditions in his four-meter-long prison cell, where he was denied access to TV, radio, books or newspapers and forced to read ‘the back of detergent boxes’ to pass time. According to the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, prolonged solitary confinement amounts to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and must not be imposed under any circumstances.
Nedim Türfent was formally charged with ‘membership of a terrorist organisation’ and ‘spreading terrorist propaganda’ 10 months after his arrest. Among the reasons listed in his indictment were his social media posts, his news reporting and 20 concealed witness testimonies. His first hearing was held in Hakkari on 14 June 2017, some 200km away from Van where he was being detained. He was denied the right to appear physically in court seven times, and instead testified via the judicial conferencing system SEGBİS, experiencing severe connection and interpretation issues. Out of the 20 witnesses called, 19 retracted their statements, saying they had been extracted under torture. Despite such clear evidence of flagrant fair trial violations, Nedim Türfent was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for ‘membership of a terrorist organisation’ and ‘spreading terrorist propaganda’ on 15 December 2017.
On 19 June 2018, the Erzurum Regional Appeals Court upheld Nedim Türfent’s conviction. His lawyers lodged an appeal before Turkey’s Constitutional Court on 3 September 2018. While waiting for a ruling on his case, Nedim Türfent spends his time studying Turkish, English and German and writing poetry.
For further details contact Aurélia Dondo at PEN International, Koops Mill, 162-164 Abbey Street, London, SE1 2AN, UK Tel: +44 (0) 20 7405 0338 Fax +44 (0) 20 7405 0339 e-mail: Aurelia.dondo@pen-international.org
Read translations of his poem, Let my heart give life, by PEN Centres and PEN supporters:
-
Your heart has become the earth
let it give elixir into the veins
bring fertility to the soil
from the springs behind the mountain Qaf.
let the benevolence of the crops
be the silver key to life.
let your heart soothe
the farmer
the peasant
the day laborer
the distressed
let it massage the broken wings of birds
with ointments
let it grant refuge
to the ants, working collectively, in solidarity
let heart fill with generosity
giving butterflies an extra day of life
let it be a lifeline
like the womb
let your heart be crystal clear
as clear as water
let it give life to the lifeless.
Translation by Barış Altıntaş, Media and Law Studies Association (MSLA)
First published here: https://medyavehukuk.org/en/800-days-behind-bars-nedim-turfent-van-prison
-
yeryüzü olmuş yüreğin iksir akıtsın
damarlara toprağa bereket getirsin
Kaf Dağı’nın ardındaki pınarlardan.
toplanan ekinlerin
sadakası dahi
yaşamın gümüşî anahtarı olsun.
köylüye
marabaya
ırgata
deva olsun yüreğin
darda olana
reva olsun.
merhem sürsün
kuşların kırık kanatlarına
göz kulak olsun
imece usulü çalışan karıncalara
fedakar olsun.
cömert olsun yüreğin
kelebeklere yaşayacak fazladan bir gün versin.
yaşam kaynağı olsun
ana rahmi misali.
ve en nihayetinde berrak olsun yüreğin
su renginde.
kuruyanı yeşertsin her daim.
süt emsin güneşin apak memesinden
ve emzirsin ihtiyacı olanı.
yaşamın sihirli iksiriyle
can versin yüreğin
cansız kalana…
-
Votre cœur est devenu la Terre
qu’il soit un élixir circulant dans les veines
qu’il apporte fécondité au sol
depuis les sources derrière le mont Qâf
que la prodigalité de ses récoltes
soit la clef de voûte de la vie
que votre cœur soit un baume
pour le cultivateur
le paysan
le journalier
l’infortuné
qu’il soit un onguent et soulage
les ailes rompues des oiseaux
qu’il donne refuge
aux fourmis qui travaillent en collectivité, dans la solidarité
permettez à votre cœur de s’emplir de bonté
donnant aux papillons un jour de plus de vie
comme une bouée
comme un ventre
que votre cœur soit cristallin
aussi limpide que l’eau
qu’il donne vie aux sans-vie.
Traduit de l’anglais par Jean-Pierre Pelletier
(* Translation by Barış Altıntaş, Media an)
-
Dein Herz wurde zur Erde.
Es gibt den Venen Elixier
Und macht den Boden fruchtbar
Mit den Quellen hinter dem Qaf.
Das Wohlwollen der Feldfrucht
Soll der silberne Schlüssel yum leben sein.
Möge Dein Herz
Den Landwirt
Den Tagelöhner
Den Notleidenden
Erquicken.
Es soll die gebrochenen Flügel der Vögel
Mit Salben massieren
Den Ameisen
Im Kollektiv solidarisch arbeitend
Soll es Zuflucht sein.
Erfülle Dein Herz mit Güte
Gib Schmetterlingen einen extra Lebenstag!
Eine Lebensader soll es sein
Wie der Mutterleib.
Dein Herz soll sein wie ein Kristall
So rein wie Wasser
Das Leblosen
Leben schenkt.
A poem by Nedim Türfent
Translated by Alexandra Salinasova
-
Twoje serce stało się ziemią
niech podaje do żył eliksir
użyźnia glebę
czerpiąc ze źródła za górą Qaf.
niech hojność zbiorów
będzie srebrnym kluczem do życia.
niech twoje serce pokrzepi
rolnika
wieśniaka
najemnika
zrozpaczonych
niech masuje ptakom złamane skrzydła
maściami
niech udzieli schronienia
mrówkom pracującym razem, solidarnie
niech twoje serce wypełni szczodrość
ofiarująca motylom jeszcze jeden dzień życia
niech będzie linią życia jak łono
niech twoje serce będzie kryształowo czyste
czyste jak woda
niech da życie tym bez życia.
-
Tu corazón se ha transformado en la tierra
déjalo dar elixir a las venas
traer fertilidad a los suelos
desde las primaveras detrás de la montaña Oaf.
Deja que la benevolencia de los cultivos
sea la llave maestra hacia la vida.
Deja que tu corazón tranquilice
al agricultor
al campesino
al jornalero
al afligido.
Déjalo masajear las alas rotas de los pájaros
con ungüentos.
Déjalo dar amparo
a las hormigas que trabajan colectiva y solidariamente.
Deja que tu corazón sea generoso
dándole a las mariposas un día más de vida.
Déjalo que sea un salvavidas
como el útero. Deja que tu corazón sea cristalino
tan claro como el agua
déjalo dar vida a lo exánime.
Poema del poeta turco Nedim Türfent
Traducido al español por Germán Rojas de PEN Chile
-
Naging mundo na ang iyong puso
hayaang magdulot ito ng eliksir sa mga ugat
magpayabong sa lupa
mula sa mga bukal sa likod ng bundok Qaf.
hayaang ang kagandahang-loob ng mga pananim
ang maging pilak na susi sa buhay.
hayaang mabigyang-ginhawa ng iyong puso
ang magsasaka
ang magbubukid
ang arawang manggagawa
ang namimighati
hayaang hagurin nito ang bali-baling mga pakpak ng mga ibon
gamit ang mga pamahid
hayaang magkaloob ito ng kanlungan
sa mga langgam, na sama-samang gumagawa, sa kanilang pagkakaisa
hayaang mapuno ng pagkamapagkaloob ang iyong puso
nagbibigay sa mga paruparo ng dagdag pang araw para mabuhay
hayaan itong maging angkla ng buhay
gaya ng sinapupunan
hayaang maging klaro ang iyong puso
kasingklaro ng tubig
hayaang magbigay ito ng buhay sa walang buhay.
Translation in Filipino by Mark Angeles, Philippine PEN
Ti pusom ket nagbalinen a ti lubong
bay-am nga isut’ mangpasalibukag kadagiti urat
mangpasalukag iti daga
manipud kadagiti ubbog iti likod ti bantay Qaf.
bay-am a ti kinamanagparabur dagiti talon
ket agbalin a plata a tulbek ti biag.
bay-am a ti pusom pagin-awaenna
ti mannalon
ti obrero
ti mangmangged
ti maup-upay
bay-am nga ilutenna dagiti nablo a payak dagiti billit
iti sapsapo
bay-am nga itdenna ti kamang
kadagiti kuton, sangsangkamaysada iti obrada, agkaykaysada
bay-am a punnoen ti pusom iti kinamanagparabur
dagiti kulibangbang ket maikkanda iti pawayway nga aldaw iti biag
bay-am nga agbalin a silpot’ biag
kas iti matris
bay-am a ti pusom agbalin a nalawag ti kristal
kas kalawag ti danum
bay-am nga isut’ mangted iti biag kadagiti awanan-biag.
Translation in Philippine-Ilokano by Junley L. Lazaga, Philippine PEN
Ang imo tagipusuon nangin kalibutan
tuguti nga magtugro dya duga kang kabuhi sa mga ugat
magdara kang abono sa lupa
halin sa tubudan sa kilid kang bukid Qaf.
tuguti ang kaalwan kang mga pananum
mangin pilak nga yabi kang kabuhi.
tuguti ang imong tagipusuon maghapulas
kang mangunguma
kang kubus
kang manog-obra sa adlawon
kang nagabakhu
tuguti dya nga maghilot kang nabari nga mga pakpak kang mga pispis
nga may mga baranyos
tuguti dya nga mangin darangpan
para sa mga subay, nga iririmaw naga-obra, sa paghugpong
tuguti ang imong tagipusuon mabuta kang kaalwan
nga nagatugro sa mga alibangbang kang dugang nga kabuhi
tuguti dya nga mangin kasugpon
angay kang taguangkan
tuguti ang imong tagipusuon mangin mala-kristal ka sinaw
parehas kang sinaw kang tubig
tuguti nga magtugro dya kang kabuhi sa mga tagumatayon.
Translation in Philippine-Kinaray-a by Genevieve L. Asenjo, Philippine PEN
Nagin raga na puso mo
paumayan kadi ugat
Daran sa pagkaburagrag
Galin sa burabod sa gulod ka Qaf,
Tugutan a kasaganaan ka ani
Sa buhay amo magin lyabe
Papunokon ka puso mo
A paraoma
A paratanom
A obrero
A nagaadit
Ukagon a lupong pakpak ka bayong
ka ilayid na bulong
tawan kadi sa lindong
a mga sirom, nagkakausad, nagtitinabangan
punoon ka puso mo sa kabootan
sa usad pang aldow a mga alibangbang
magin turos sa buway
arog ka pupunan
magin malinaw
arog ka tubig barang
nagtataong buway sa binawian.
Translation in Philippine-Rinconada Bikol by H. Francisco V. Peñones Jr., Philippine PEN
Nagin daga na an puso mo
paumayan kaini an ugat
gibohon buhaghag liwat
hali sa burabod kan bulod kan Qaf
tugutan an karigonan kan ani
sa buhay iyong magin lyabe
Patoninongon kan puso mo
An paraoma
An paratanom
An obrero
An naghahadit
Baring pakpak kan gamgam hiloton
Kan panlahid na bulong
Tawan kaini nin sirungan
An mga tanga, nagkakasararo, nagtitinabangan
Panoon kan puso mo sa kabootan
Nin saro pang aldaw an mga alibangbang
Magin sumpay buhay
Arog kan sa pupunan
Magin malinaw
silag arog kan tubig
nagtataong buhay sa binawian.
Translation in Philippine-Bicol by H. Francisco V. Peñones Jr., Philippine PEN
Say pusom nagmaliw a mundo
paulyan mon mangiter na dilo ed saray olat
mangawit na yabong ed dalin
manlapu ed sobul di's beneg na palandey a Qaf.
paulyan a dia'd kamaungan dara'y tanem
magmaliw a pilak a tumbok na bilay
paulyan ya say pusom umamoen
so dumaralus
so abeba'd kipapasen
so kumikimey
so magonigon
paulyan a poyoken so apiley a payak na saray billit
na larak
paulyan iyan mangiter na siruman
dara'y gilata, sankaiban onkikimey, ed pankakasakey
paulyan ya say pusom napano na kamaungan
mangiter ed saray kumpapey a sakey agew nin bilay
paulyan a saya et suldong na bilay
singa no baley na ugaw
paulyan a say pusom krital ed linew
kasinlinew na danum
paulyan a mangiter na bilay ed andi-bilay.
Translation in Philippine-Pangasinan by Santiago Villafania, Philippine PEN
Imong kasingkasing nahimong kalibutan
itugot iyang ihatag sa kaugatan ang kahupayan sa balati-an
dad-on ngadto sa yuta ang katabunok
gikan sa mga tubod luyo sa bukid Qaf.
itugot nga ang kaayo sa mga tanaman
mahimong pilak nga yawe sa kinabuhi.
itugot nga ang imong kasingkasing magahupay
sa mag-uuma
sa magbaba-ol
sa inadlawng mamumu-o
sa nagsubo
itugot iyang hapohapon ang nangabaling pako sa mga langgam
sa humot nga mga haplas
itugot iyang ihatag ang dangpanan
sa mga hulmigas, nga naghugpong sa pag-ugmad, diha sa kahi-usahan
itugot nga ang imong kasingkasing puno sa kamanggihatagon
hatagan ang mga kabakaba og dugang adlaw sa kinabuhi
itugot nga kini gabayan sa pagpakabuhi
sama sa sabakan
itugot nga ang imong kasingkasing sihag nga kristal
tin-aw sama sa tubig
itugot iyang itugyan ang kinabuhi ngadto sa nawad-an na ni-ini.
Translation in Philippine-Cebuano (Binisaya) by Ulysses Aparece, Philippine PEN
-
Kè w tounen latè
kite l koule tretman an nan venn yo
rann tè a gra
depi nan sous dèyè mòn Qaf yo.
kite abondans jaden yo
tounen kle an ajan lavi a.
kite kè w rekonfòte
kiltivatè a
peyizan an
jounalye a
malere a
kite l rale zèl zwazo van kase
ak luil masketi
kite l tounen refij
foumi k ap fè konbit, nan solidarite
kite kè w fè chay jenewozite
bay papiyon yon jou lavi an plis
kite l vin yon bwe sovtaj
tankou yon manmèl
kite kè w vin pwòp
klè kou dlo kòk
kite l bay lavi ak sila ki san vi.
-
Que el meu cor doni vida
El teu cor ara és la Terra
deixa que doni elixir a les venes
que aporti fertilitat al sòl
des de les fonts rere el mont Qaf.
deixa que la benvolença dels conreus sigui la clau d’argent de la vida.
deixa que el teu cor calmi
el granger
el camperol
el jornaler
l’angoixat
deixa que acaroni les ales malmeses dels ocells
amb ungüents
deixa que sigui refugi
de les formigues, que treballen col·lectivament, solidari
deixa que el teu cor s’ompli de generositat
i doni a les papallones un dia més de vida
deixa’l que sigui un fil de vida
com al ventre
deixa que el teu cor sigui transparent
clar com l’aigua
deixa’l que doni vida on no n’hi ha.
Traducció d’Anna Giró i Jaume Subirana
-
Nu när ditt hjärta har blivit jorden
låt det ingjuta livskraft i ådrorna
från källorna bakom berget Qaf
och göra åkrarna fruktbara
låt grödornas välvilja
bli livets silvernyckel
låt ditt hjärta trösta
jordbrukaren
bonden
daglönaren
alla olyckliga
låt det massera fåglarnas brustna vingar
med smörjelse
ge tillflyktsort
åt myrorna som arbetar gemensamt
och solidariskt
låt ditt hjärta fyllas av givmildhetvbli en livlina
likt ett moderliv
låt ditt hjärta bli gnistrande klart
klart som vatten
låt det ge liv åt allt som saknar liv.
Translation: Daniel Gustafsson
-
Հող դարձած սիրտդ թող հոսեցնի
բարօրություն բերի երակներին հողի
Քաֆայից անդին հոսող աղբյուներից
Հավաքված բերքերի
Ողորմությունը ներառյալ
Կյանքն արծաթե բանալին թող լինի։
Գյուղացուն
Ռանչպարին
Հողագործին
Թող ճար լինի քո սիրտը
Դարդ ունեցողին
Թող հարմար լինի։
Բուժիչ քսուք թող քսի
Թռչունների կոտրած թևերին
Ուշադիր լինի
Միավ բանող մրջյուններին թող անձնազոհ լինի։
Ջոմարդ ինի թող սիրտը քո
Թիթեռների կյանքին մի օր ավել բաշխի։
Մոր արգանդի պես կենարար աղբյուր թող լինի։
Եվ ի վերջո պարզ թող լինի սիրտդ զուլալ ջրերում
չորացածին մշտադալար դարձնի։
Թող կաթ ծծի արևի ճեպ-ճերմակ ստինքից։
և թող կաթով սնուցի կարիքավորին։
Կենարար հեղուկով
թող շունչ տա սիրտդ անշնչացածներին ․․․
Translated by Artak Shakaryan
-
òstre còr es vengut la Tèrra
Basta s’endevenguèsse un jussèu benfasent per tas venas
E balhèsse au sòu sa drudesa
De dempuòi las eissors darrièr lo mont Qâf
que sas recòrdas en abonde
siágan lo carrastèl de la vida
que vòstre còr siá un baime
per lo cultivador
lo pacan
lo pretzfachièr
lo malastruc
que siá enguent per portar solaç
a las alas matrassadas dels aucèls
que balhèsse lo refugi
a las formigas que trabalhan cotria, solidàrias,
laissatz que vòstre còr s’empliga de bontat
e balhe als parpalhons un jorn de mai de vida
a la semblança d’un gavitèl o d’una pança
que vòstre còr siá un cristau
tan linde coma aquela aiga
que balha a los que son sens vida.
Traduction: Jean-Frédéric Brun
-
Dein Herz wurde zur Erde.
Von den Quellen hinter dem Qaf
Sollte in deine Venen Elixir fließen
Und den Boden fruchtbar machen.
Die Güte der gesammelten Feldfrüchte
Soll der silberne Schlüssel des Lebens sein.
Möge dein Herz
Den Landwirt
Den Tagelöhner
Den Leidtragenden
Beheben.
Es soll die gebrochenen Flügel der Vögel
Mit Salben massieren
Es soll sie Pflegen
Es soll den Ameisen
Die im Kollektiv arbeiten
Zuflucht sein.
Es soll dein Herz mit Güte Erfüllen lassen
Den Schmetterlingen einen extra Lebenstag mehr gewähren
Eine Lebensquelle soll es sein
Wie der Mutterleib.
Und nach allem, soll dein Herz Kristallklar sein
So rein wie Wasser
Es soll die trocknenden jedes mal grünen.
Lass es sich an den Brüsten der Sonne nähren
und lass diejenigen, die stillen müssen, ernähren.
Lass das Elixier
deinem Herzen Leben geben
den Leblosen leben schenken.
Translated by Lorin Bozkurt
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Vouthron côr il est devegnu la Tèrra
Que seye un élèxir circulant diens les vênes
Que pôrte féconditâ u suél
Depués de les sôrces dèrriér lo mont Qâf
que la prodigalitâ de ses rècortes
seye la cllaf de vouta de la via
que vouthron côr seye un bômo
por lo curtivator
lo payisan
le jornaliér
l’enfortunâ
Que seye un ongant et solage
les âles dèrontues de los uséls
que balye refujo
a les fromelyes qui travalyont en colèctivitâ, diens la solidaritâ
permetéd à vouthron côr que s’emplisse de bontâ
que bâlye ux donnant aux parpelyons un jorn de més de via
coment une bouée
coment un ventre
que vouthron côr seye cristalin
asse limpido que l’égoua
que balya via ux sen-via.
Traduction: Jean-Frédéric Brun