A life defined by legal proceedings since 1998, the career of sociologist and writer Pınar Selek illustrates the intersection of academic research and political persecution. Born in Istanbul in 1971, she established herself as a researcher focused on vulnerable communities, including street children and Kurdish populations, before entering a prolonged period of exile that eventually led to her French citizenship in 2017.
Academic Foundation and Research
Selek attended the Lycée Notre Dame de Sion in Istanbul before completing her undergraduate and graduate studies in sociology at the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Her early academic work involved field research that documented the lives of marginalized groups. This scholarly focus eventually led to a doctorate in political science from the University of Strasbourg, which she earned in 2014 while living in academic exile.
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On July 9, 1998, an explosion at the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul resulted in seven deaths and approximately 100 injuries. Selek was arrested on July 11, 1998, based on allegations linking her to the incident. Forensic reports from experts at Istanbul University and the Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty later concluded the blast was caused by a gas leak. After spending two and a half years in prison, where she reported suffering torture, she was released in December 2000.
Legal Harassment and Exile
Despite receiving acquittals in 2006, 2008, 2011, and 2014, the Turkish judiciary has repeatedly reopened her case. The Supreme Court of Turkey reversed her acquittal in 2022 and sentenced her to life in prison. Selek currently resides in France, where she holds a permanent assistant professor position in sociology at Université Côte d'Azur. She continues her work as a writer, children's author, and human rights defender, serving as an ambassador for Prison Insider as of 2024.
Fast facts
- Born: 1971, Istanbul
- Citizenship: Turkey and France (since 2017)
- Education: Lycée Notre Dame de Sion, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, University of Strasbourg
- Awards: Duygu Asena award (2009, 2023), ENS Lyon Honorary Doctorate (2013), Premi Veu Lliure (2024)
- Professional Role: Assistant professor at Université Côte d'Azur
- Academic Focus: Sociology, human rights, and migration
Questions readers ask
Why was Pınar Selek initially arrested?
She was detained in 1998 in connection to an explosion at the Istanbul Spice Bazaar, an event later attributed by forensic experts to a gas leak.
Where does she currently live?
Selek resides in France, where she maintains an academic position at the Université Côte d'Azur.
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