Azerbaijani Novelist Stripped Of ‘People’s Writer’ Title

AZERBAIJANI NOVELIST STRIPPED OF ‘PEOPLE’S WRITER’ TITLE

Akram Aylisli

Azerbaijan’s Orhan Pamuk
An accomplished author in Azerbaijan has raised a storm of criticism
with a new novel that casts the country’s traditional rival, Armenia,
in a sympathetic light.

By RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service
February 07, 2013

BAKU — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stripped a prominent
novelist of the title of “People’s Writer,” as well as his
presidentially awarded pension.

Azerbaijani media reported on February 7 that the actions were taken
against Akram Aylisli because of his novel “Stone Dreams,” which was
printed in a popular Russian magazine last year.

The novel describes sensitive issues in relations between Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

It focuses on Nagorno-Karabakh, the mostly Armenian-populated region
that broke away from Azerbaijan in the early 1990s.

Azerbaijani media quoted Aliyev’s decree, which said Aylisli was
punished “for distorting facts in Azerbaijani history and insulting
the feelings of Azerbaijani people.”

Aylisli told RFE/RL the presidential decision was “unexpected” because
his title and pension were awarded to him for his other works in
the past.