Turkish government has seized the passport of the prominent Turkish novelist and human rights defender Aslı Erdoğan before he travels to Germany to receive the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Prize in person on September 22, 2017.
Novelist Aslı Erdoğan had been jailed for 4,5 months and then released on judicial probation for being member of the advisory council of pro-Kurdish Özgür Gündem daily.
It was reported that Erdoğan has been planing to travel to Osnabrück to receive the prize, however Turkish government has revoked her passport despite the travel ban imposed on her was rescinded on June 22. Erdoğan, an honorary member of PEN, was also previously hindered from travelling abroad to receive the prizes awarded to her due to travel ban.
The German city of Osnabrück has handed out the Erich Maria Remarque Peace Prize, named for the author of the World War I classic “All Quiet on the Western Front” every two years since 1991. It goes to writers who shows the commitment to peace.
