Elif Shafak

Elif Shafak is a Turkish author. She is known for her novels exploring identity, belonging, and cultural conflict. Shafak’s writing often tackles controversial issues such as gender violence, political oppression, and historical memory. Born in France and raised in Turkey, Shafak holds a Ph.D. in political science and has taught at universities in Turkey, the U.S., and the U.K., including the University of Oxford. She has faced legal challenges in Turkey for the political themes in her work, most recently a plagiarism accusation in 2024, which she is appealing. A vocal advocate for women’s rights and freedom of expression, she now lives in London, where she continues to write and speak on global human rights issues.