Elif Shafak

Turkish-British novelist challenging patriarchal norms through multilingual literature and feminist activism

Elif Shafak (1971-present), Turkey's most banned yet internationally celebrated author, transforms global perceptions of Muslim women through works like 《The Bastard of Istanbul》 (2006) and 《Three Daughters of Eve》 (2016). Her unique approach includes:

• Writing in both Turkish and English to bridge cultural divides
• Incorporating Sufi mysticism with modern feminism
• Facing legal charges for 'insulting Turkishness'

As co-founder of the Nobel Women's Initiative, Shafak blends storytelling with activism against honor killings and digital authoritarianism. Her 2019 novel 《10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World》 – shortlisted for the Booker Prize – gives voice to Istanbul's marginalized through magical realism.

Shafak's TED Talks on political storytelling have garnered over 8 million views, making her a unique bridge between Eastern narratives and Western literary circles.