Mehmedin Kitab (Mehmed's Book)
by Nadire Mater is the Story of life in the Turkish army on the southeastern front as told by 42 of the 220,000 conscripts who have fought for their country in its civil war against the Kurds. On 23 June this year Mehmedin Kitab: soldiers who have fought in the Southeast speak out, to give it its full title, was banned by an Istanbul court on charges of 'insulting and belittling the military'. The court also ordered the seizure of all existing copies.
The military took its time: the book had been around since April and was already in its fourth reprint when it made its views known. Maybe it was the prospect of an English-language translation, already delivered to an editor with a view to UK or US publication, that alarmed the sclerotic generals who still rule Turkey.
This is undoubtedly one of the most important and explosive books to come out of Turkey in the last decade. The soldiers' testimony exposes the army, the politicians and makes it clear that this is an 'unnecessary' and 'unjust' war that is driving the country to bankcrupcy and political suicide. 'I fear we are storing up the wrath to come,' says one of the 'Mehmets' - a generic term for the conscript squaddies
