AST 1st International Poetry Competition

In 2021, Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) organized the 1st International Poetry Contest in memory of the late Hatice Akçabay. The contest aimed to raise awareness of the human rights violations in Turkey through the power of poetry.

The theme was set as “Poems Depicting Human Rights Violations in Turkey”, with the purpose of ensuring that victims are not forgotten and that their suffering is shared with broader audiences.

Awards

1st Place – $1,000

2nd Place – $500

3rd Place – $250

The deadline for submissions was October 1, 2021, and the winning poems were published by AST, allowing poets to become the voice of the silenced and to amplify their stories of pain and resilience.

The award ceremony was held on January 2, 2022, and broadcast live on AST’s YouTube channel, reaching audiences worldwide.

This meaningful contest demonstrated how poetry can transcend borders and give expression to the struggles, hopes, and memories of those who continue to face oppression.