Pinar Selek: a life dedicated to resistance and the defense of human rights
Pinar Selek, Turkish sociologist, writer and activist, is a key voice in the fight for human rights and minorities in Turkey. For nearly 25 years, she has faced legal harassment aimed at silencing her critics and repressing her progressive ideas. A refugee in France since 2009, Pinar Selek continues to fight for justice and equality, despite the obstacles that stand in her way.
Born in Istanbul in 1971, Pinar Selek grew up in a politically engaged family. His passion for social justice and human rights was passed on to him by his parents, who were human rights advocates themselves. From a young age, she found herself confronted with injustice and oppression, when her father was imprisoned during the crackdown on the left in the 1980s.
This experience had a profound impact on Pinar Selek and reinforced his commitment to the fight against oppression. Over the years, she has developed a holistic vision of social justice, combining the fight against gender discrimination, the oppression of ethnic minorities and the destruction of the environment. His thinking was influenced by the thinking of social ecology, notably through the writings of Murray Bookchin.
As a sociologist, Pinar Selek was interested in the Kurdish community in Turkey. His research shed light on the violence and discrimination this community faced. This work attracted the attention of the Turkish authorities, who saw in it a threat to the established order. In 1998, she was arrested on false bombing charges, in an attempt to silence her.
Despite the torture she suffered during her interrogation, Pinar Selek refused to remain silent. She did not hesitate to denounce the injustices of which she was a victim and to file a complaint against the torturers. Her efforts ultimately paid off, as she was acquitted four times, in 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2014. However, in June 2022, the Turkish Supreme Court overturned all of these acquittals and ordered a retrial.
Faced with this new ordeal, Pinar Selek has not lost his determination. She continues to fight for truth and justice, despite the threats and legal harassment of which she is the victim. Now a teacher in Nice, she uses her voice and her pen to raise public awareness of injustices in Turkey and to defend the rights of minorities.
Pinar Selek is an example of courage and resilience, a voice that refuses to be silenced. His fight for justice and human rights is a call for solidarity and the defense of universal values. As a society, we must support people like Pinar Selek who fight against oppression and dare to challenge unjust systems. Because it is by joining forces that we can create a more equitable and just world for all.