Book by author Şule Yüksel Şenler “Peace Street”, translated into Bosnian language, was introduced in an event honored by Minister of Culture and Tourism Yalçın Topçu.

Publicity event was held in Turkish Embassy in Sarajevo on 22 October 2015 with contributions of Sarajevo Yunus Emre Institute.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Topçu made a short speech in the event held with attendance of numerous guests. Topçu began his speech as follows: “I commemorate Alija Izzetbegović with gratitude in the 12^th year of his passing, a person who struggled all his life to leave an independent country to his nation, and may he rest in peace,”. He said Izzetbegović is “a hero, a Wise King and an esteemed intellectual” for all Muslims with the works he left behind.

Minister Topçu continued as follows: “As Izzetbegović shouted out that there was no tolerance for a Muslim country right in the middle of Europe, he gave historical responses to Western Civilization by giving examples from Ottoman's civilization of tolerance. Alija claimed Bosnia was regarded small-time and Istanbul was in fact the target.” Topçu stated that Sarajevo and Istanbul are not only siblings but also share a destiny, and Anatolia felt the fire that burned in Bosnia. Moreover, a sibling extended a helping hand to the other, maybe those hands were small but thanks to the grand prayers of big hearts that reached the sky, justice was served in Bosnia. While Topçu narrated that 79 works by 54 Turkish writers were translated into Bosnian from Turkish as part of TEDA Project, and they gathered for the translation of Peace Street into Bosnian, a prominent book in the recent period of Turkish literatureİ he also remarked that “Peace Street” is now a classic novel and said, “It is a best-selling book which have been read by tens of thousands of young people over the years, and changed youth's perspective on life. Peace Street is a timeless classical work. Book still influences people in our day as it did when it was first published.”

"I wrote a lot on Bosnia-Herzegovina”

Thanking those who contributed in the organization of such a meaningful day, writer Şule Yüksel Şenler said “I am honored that my novel 'Peace Street' has been read for nearly half a century and that readers take interest in my book, even today.”

Şenler, expressing that she always wished to visit Bosnia-Herzegovina, and wrote a lot on Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war, added, “May God never show those days again. May those who were martyred in the war rest in peace, and I offer my condolences to their families and loved ones.”

Emine Erdoğan's message was read

In the event Ambassador for Sarajevo Cihad Erginay gave a vote of thanks. Following his speech, Erginay shared with the audience the message from Emine Erdoğan, spouse of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Emine Erdoğan expressed her joy for the introduction of the book “Peace Street” in Sarajevo and said the following in her message:

“Şule Yüksel Şenler is a distinguished activist and a cultural figure. Peace Street mirroring the social life of a period, demonstrated the potential of novel and literature to larger masses. It had a pioneering role in many respects. Madame Şule Yüksel Şenler is the pioneer of a half-century long struggle, just like her work. New generations getting acquainted with this valuable book is a great gain both for our culture and our future. And it is a proper pride for our country that the work went beyond our borders and was translated into other languages. We are thankful to Şule Yüksel Şenler for her struggle and her book Peace Street which led to questioning of the established patterns.”

Program ended after the reception.