Unyielding Hero Under Repression: Goethe-Medal Honors Imprisoned Turkish Cultural Advocate Osman Kavala
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Award for jailed advocate of Turkish culture and arts - Imprisoned Turkish Cultural Advocates Recipients of Goethe Medal
In the world where democratic values are being tested, it's essential to highlight those making a difference.
Breaking Barriers from Behind Bars
Osman Kavala, a cultural luminary currently incarcerated in Turkey since 2017, has been bestowed the prestigious Goethe-Medal by the Federal Republic of Germany. Despite his confinement, he remains pivotal in fostering peace and reconciliation in his region, according to the Goethe-Institut.
The butcher's block will also see Chinese linguist Li Yuan and Belgian author David Van Reybrouck, both awarded this esteemed mark of recognition from the Federal Republic. The awarding ceremony will take place on August 28 in historic Weimar.
Democracy in the Crosshairs
Gesche Joost, the President of the Goethe-Institut based in Berlin, expressed her concerns over the world's escalating harshness towards democratic values. She emphasized, "Now, more than ever, we need cultural understanding and people who dare to make a meaningful impact." Thomas Oberender, the chair of the commission for the award of the medal, called the recipients "quiet, unassuming revolutionaries."
Kavala's Dedication to Human Rights
Fondly remembered as the brains behind the organization Anadolu Kültür, established in Istanbul in 2002, Kavala has made significant strides in promoting human rights, art, and culture. Tragically, he has been held in detention since 2017. Following an internationally condemned trial, he was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment in 2022. The court found him guilty of orchestrating a coup attempt, traceable to the Gezi protests, which began in 2013 as a local protest in Istanbul and escalated into a nationwide confrontation against the government.
German's Influence in China
Li Yuan's dedication to German as a foreign language in China caught the jury's attention. Her relentless efforts have significantly impacted and elevated the German language curriculum and teaching practices in Chinese schools and universities.
Van Reybrouck: Voicing the Unheard
The Goethe-Institut applauds Van Reybrouck for his body of work that illuminates perspectives often overshadowed by the Western-dominated historical narrative. His work stands as one of the most remarkable and thought-provoking contributions to the contemporary political discourse.
Van Reybrouck uses the method of oral history in his writing. One of his noted works, "Revolusi - Indonesia and the Birth of the Modern World," was born from conversations with eyewitnesses in nursing homes, remote villages, and mountain regions of Nepal.
Goethe's Legacy Lives On
This year marks the 70th iteration of the Goethe-Medal, the first time it will be publicly awarded in Weimar, traditionally on August 28, coinciding with the birthdate of the renowned poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832). Every recipient of the medal is selected by a commission that includes notable cultural figures like dramaturg Matthias Lilienthal. Previous recipients include acclaimed conductor Daniel Barenboim and celebrated British author Ian McEwan.
- Osman Kavala
- Goethe-Institut
- Turkey
- Federal Republic of Germany
- Berlin
- Weimar
- Istanbul
- Germany
- China
- Democracy
- Gesche Joost
- The Goethe-Institut, based in Berlin, has expressed concerns over the world's escalating harshness towards democratic values.
- The butcher's block will see Chinese linguist Li Yuan and Belgian author David Van Reybrouck, both awarded the esteemed Goethe-Medal from the Federal Republic of Germany.
- Osman Kavala, the cultural luminary currently incarcerated in Turkey since 2017, has been bestowed the prestigious Goethe-Medal by the Goethe-Institut.
- Tragically, Kavala, founder of Anadolu Kültür, established in Istanbul in 2002, has been held in detention since 2017.
- The court found him guilty of orchestrating a coup attempt, traceable to the Gezi protests, which began in 2013 in Istanbul and escalated into a nationwide confrontation against the government.
- David Van Reybrouck's work, using the method of oral history, illuminates perspectives often overshadowed by the Western-dominated historical narrative.
