PEN Canada for Freedom of Expression

Writers in Exile

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Turkey

Metin Ciyayi
Metin Ciyayi was born in the city of Urfa/Viransehir in Kurdistan/Turkey. He was arrested on November 26, 1980, and imprisoned in Diyarbekir/Viransehir prison and released May 5, 1983. In 1987, he wrote his first book, titled Verilmis Sozumdur. It was his first foray into the writing world. He then continued with a book, Ufukta Bir Insan, based on his own experiences. Another book, Sonsuzluk Ulkesinden Masallar, is a collection of his writings from newspapers. A subsequent trial in Istanbul resulted in Ciyayi’s imprisonment from December 25, 1991, to June 3, 1992. Following his release in 1994, he published a book called Bu Senin Oykundur. Ciyayi fled to Malta, where in 1999 he published a book of poems called Bawer Kurdi. Now in Canada, Ciyayi continues to write.

I owe PEN Canada for whatever it is we call a home…. I was deeply traumatized when I crossed mountains to flee my invaded home. When I got here, the immigration office labelled me as ‘general labour’. I am nothing less than ‘highly-skilled labour’ - in the field of poetry.” Poet and PEN Canada writer in exile Saghi Ghahraman