Turkey Rehabilitates Poet Nazim Hikmet

"We have annulled a 1951 decree to strip Nazim Hikmet of his Turkish citizenry. UNESCO had declared 2002 the 'Nazim Hikmet Year'.  A most reputed name in the literary circles across the globe Nazim Hikmet deserves the annulment of this outdated and meaningless decree,” told Turkish government spokesperson Cemil Çiçek journalists on Monday.

“Turkish government have no reservations for the transfer of Hikmet’s grave from Moscow to Turkey,” he added. “The final decision is left to his relatives.” 

After losing his Turkish nationality, the poet had become a Polish citizen, spent the rest of his life in Soviet Union and was buried in Moscow after passing in 1953.

Nazim Hikmet, having spent twelve years in prison under a highly controverial sentence for "inciting mutiny among the navy" had been released in 1950.  But  had to seek asylum in Poland under threats of further sentences and to his life in the Cold War atmosphere.

Although his work was banned in Turkey until 1965, Nazim Hikmet has gained millions of admirers not only from among Turkey’s working class and left movement but also from among various shades of Turkey’s intellectuals.

Hikmet’s poems have been translated to many other languages including, Russian, Arabic, English, French, German, Spanish, Hindu, Greek, Chines etc., gaining the poet worldwide reputation among the global literary community and millions of admirers everywhere. (EK)