Naipaul pulls out of Turkey meet

V.S. Naipaul has been forced to pull out of a major literary conference in Turkey after protests over his views on Islam.

The Nobel laureate was invited to give the opening speech at the European Writers’ Parliament (EWP) in Istanbul, but several Turkish writers threatened to boycott the event because of his critical comments about Islam, which he likened to colonialism, in a speech here 10 years ago, saying that it “has had a calamitous effect on converted peoples.”

The organisers said he had withdrawn by “mutual agreement” following “politicisation” of the event.

“The politicisation of the conference in the Turkish media in regards to Sir V.S. Naipaul’s participation has altered the original conception of the event and his contribution to it as a celebrated author,” the EWP said in a statement.

British- Indian novelist Hari Kunzru, who gave the opening speech instead, regretted the row.

“I feel we would be stronger and more credible if we were to deal with divergent views within this meeting rather than a priori excluding someone because of fear that offence might be given,” he said.

Ahmet Kot, Literary Director of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, which is hosting the conference, expressed his disappointment over the row.

“I was expecting to get positive reactions for bringing together people with different views. I still think that we are right and some writers will support us,” he said.

The idea behind the EWP, an initiative of Turkish and Portuguese Nobel laureates Orhan Pamuk and José Saramago, is to encourage debate on contemporary issues that have relevance to literature.

The Guardian, quoting Turkish media reports, said the row erupted after poet and philosopher Hilmi Yavuz described the invitation to Sir Vidia as “disrespectful,” saying he had insulted Islam in the past.

via The Hindu : News / National : Naipaul pulls out of Turkey meet.