Sabahattin Ali (1907-1948) was 24 when we was first imprisoned. He was a young and idealistic teacher when he was accused of spreading communist propaganda and sentenced to three months in prison.
In 1945, all of his public functions were suspended for good. This is when he started publishing Markopaşa with Aziz Nesin. Each cover read “Published regularly unless confiscated or writers jailed”. In fact, to Sabahattin Ali literature was not a mere form of entertainment but rather a struggle, a means to elevate society. As the articles were not signed, Sabahattin Ali, the editor-in-chief, had to take responsibility for them. He spent a lot of time in court during this period of his life. In 1947, he was sentenced to three months in prison because of one of the articles published in Markopaşa.
As governmental pressure kept growing around him, Sabahattin Ali grew concerned and decided to flee Turkey. Through a prison acquaintance he met Ali Ertekin, a smuggler, who agreed to help him cross the Bulgarian border as his passport had been revoked. Sabahattin Ali planned on settling in Germany or France and have his wife Aliye and daughter Filiz join him there. But he never made it across the border. Three months after he left home, his body was found in Kırklareli near the Turkish-Bulgarian border. Ertekin admitted to the murder of Sabahattin Ali. He defended himself by saying that he acted on nationalistic sentiments as the writer’s words made him feel hateful. However, although a culprit was found, the circumstances of Sabahattin Ali’s death remain unresolved. The involvement of the police force in the affair is still suspected.
Letter from Sabahattin Ali to his family, 1947
(date unknown)
Dear Aliye,
I sent you a letter from the Istanbul Prison on the 30th of May. Ten days later, I still hadn’t received a response, so I started to worry and had Mehmet Ali Cimcoz call Erol. I was told that you were well but had not received my letter. I’m urgently expecting a letter from you. Tell me about the state of Filiz’s grades and how you’re doing. Why did they cut out the salary, what reason did they give? Tell me all about it in detail. Send the letters to Mehmet Ali Cimcoz for now. Erol knows his address. It should also be in the new Istanbul phone book. I don’t have it memorised. I was transferred from the Istanbul Prison to the Üsküdar Prison1 yesterday. Because Istanbul Prison is a detention house, people are transferred here once their sentences are confirmed. It’s quieter here, more comfortable and less eventful. I’m trying to get the fifteen days I spent at the police station included in my sentence. If I succeed, it would mean I have less than three months left here. That is, I would get out on the 10th of September. Is it hot yet in Ankara? Zekeriya2 has taken care of me and sent over mattress, covers, etc. They’ve gone to Polonezköy3 now, they should be back in a week or two. He told me: “Aliye Hanım and Filiz should come, we could give them a room at the house. They could stay until you get out!” He wants to give you one his daughters’ room. You would be very comfortable. You could go at the start of July and only take the necessary clothes and beddings. Lock up the house properly, don’t let anyone else stay there. Also, it’s easy to come to Üsküdar from Moda.
The Prison is close to Karacaahmet4, there’s no reason to be sad. Everything will get in order, make sure you tell Filiz not to be sad. I will get out before the start of the school year. The upcoming trials are not as important. Bring me these things when you come: 1- Pyjamas, old yellow shoes, swimsuit, underwear. 2- These books: a) From the shelf in the guest room: Bros: Der Pharao5, Ehrenburg: Der Fail von Paris6 b) From the shelf in the livingroom: Steinbeck: Früchte das Zorns7, Norah Lofts: Holle der Barmherzigkeit8. Make sure you bring these. How are our friends doing over there? What are Cevdet, Muvaffak and all up to? Couldn’t Rebia have found out that my sentence was confirmed and let me known earlier? I could have settled my affairs accordingly and the arrest wouldn’t have been so sudden. Anyway, greetings to our friends (but I mean, our true friends). Let me know when you would like to come and how much money you need for the fare. I send longing kisses to both you my beloved wife, and Filiz.
My dear, lovely Filiz, how are you? Of course, you passed your class with flying colors. How was your show? Do you go to the Radio? I hope you will soon be in Istanbul. When you’re in Moda, you’ll be able to come and see me often. Write to me. I send you a thousand kisses.
You father Sabahatti Ali
- Üsküdar is a neighbourhood on the asian side of Istanbul. ↩︎
- Zekeriya Sertel (1890-1980), journalist. ↩︎
- Polonezköy is a small village whithin the municipality and district of Beykoz, Istanbul. ↩︎
- Karacaahmet is a cemetery in Üsküdar. ↩︎
- Pharaoh, Bolesław Prus, 1897 ↩︎
- The Fall of Paris, Ilya Ehrenburg, 1942 ↩︎
- The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck, 1939 ↩︎
- White Hell of Pity, Norah Lofts, 1937 ↩︎
İSTASYON editions EN 