Elif Shafak, a prominent Turkish writer best known for her book on the Armenian Genocide, has voiced her negative stance on a draft constitutional amendment proposing transition to the presidential model.
She extended support to opponents of the constitutional reforms via posts on Twitter. The civic groups which have joined the campaign include intellectuals, artists and youth activists, Cumhuriyet reports.
In 2006, Shafak twice faced court for her novel The Bastard of Istanbul. She was accused of insulting Turkishness (Article 301 of Turkish Criminal Code). The controversy evolved around a central character who proved the fact of the Armenian Genocide committed in the World War I period. The case was later dismissed for lack of evidence.
To avoid persecutions by Turkish nationalists, the writer, 42, now resides in London.