The renowned Turkish-Muslim novelist Elif Shafak, who’s most famous for novels like ‘The Forty Rules of Love,’ ‘The Bastard of Istanbul,’ and ’10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World,’ among others, is currently facing allegations of plagiarism. She was taken to court by her contemporary, Iclal Mine Kirikkanat.
This is a case that has been ongoing since 2021, in which Kirikkanat claimed that Shafak’s 2002 novel ‘Bit Palas’ or ‘The Flea Palace’ has many similarities with her 1990 published novel ‘Sinek Sarayi’ or ‘Palace of Flies.’ This week, a Turkish court ruled in favor of the plaintiff and ordered Shafak to pay financial and moral damages.
Such allegations, which the author named “insane smears,” can be dangerous to Shafak’s reputation as an all-time best-selling author and a major literary figure highly respected by many. Shafak also said the court has disregarded the opinions of several respected novelists who said there was no plagiarism whatsoever.
“There is no bad word or insult left in the dictionary she hasn’t said about me,” Shafak said. “Not once have I responded to evil with evil.”
What Are The Other Authors Saying?
In an article titled “There is no similarity between Mine Kirikkanat and Elif Shafak!” published by Okumak İyi Gelir in 2022, several authors and literature professors have drawn the line between both female novelists. Ulker Gokberk, a retired literature professor wrote:
“Both books are unique and valuable novels that tell their narratives in the Beyoglu environment within completely different fiction narrative techniques and completely different semantic and semiotic frameworks…There is absolutely no similarity or plagiarism between them.”
WE SAID THIS: Don’t Miss…Ink & Insights: Dive Into Palestine’s Resistance With These Graphic Novels