Spring 2022
Nurcan Kaya is a writer, columnist, lawyer, and human rights defender from Turkey. She specialises in human rights – in particular minority rights, equality, and anti-discrimination remedies under international human rights and European Union law. She has authored several reports and articles on minority rights, including Discrimination based on Colour, Ethnic Origin, Language, Religion and Belief in Turkey’s Education System. She was a columnist for Artı Gerçek, focusing on a wide range of issues, including women’s rights, peaceful protest, and minorities.
Nurcan Kaya arrived in London in May 2022 to take part in English PEN’s residency programme for international writers.
During her residency, Nurcan Kaya primarily focused on reading and writing. She also attended a number of English PEN events, including First Editions, Second Thoughts at Christie’s and the 2022 PEN Ackerley Prize at the London Library. She has also been meeting NGOs and journalists based in London.
I had studied in the UK and worked in London a long time ago. Too much has changed in London, in Turkey, and in my life since then. This has been a unique opportunity for me to be back to London, my beloved city, after many years with a different public profile and for a different purpose. The residency gave me the opportunity to relax, take a deep breath, think, read and write in a very peaceful environment. I have had access to libraries, books, materials and have met many people to discuss ideas. I have many more things in my mind to read and write about.
I am very grateful to English PEN for inviting me to join the residency programme. This happened at such a critical time in my life.