Sibel Eraslan (born 1967, Üsküdar, Istanbul) is a journalist, writer and lawyer. Known for her writings on women’s rights, human rights and social issues, Eraslan has contributed columns to various newspapers and has written short stories and novels in the field of literature.

Early Life and Education

Sibel Eraslan was born in the Üsküdar district of Istanbul. She completed her primary and secondary education in Üsküdar and graduated from Üsküdar Girls’ High School in 1985. In 1989 she graduated from the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University. Alongside her legal education she participated in projects in the fields of feminism women’s rights human rights and civil defense.

Career and Works

Sibel Eraslan began her literary career with short stories written during her high school years. Until the 2000s she focused primarily on short stories and essays. She gained recognition through her column in the newspaper Vakit. Her writings have been published in various literary and cultural magazines including Vakit Teklif ve İnsan.

In 2002 she was awarded the Turkey Writers Union Short Story Award. In 2015 she won the Necip Fazıl Short Story Award given by Star newspaper. She currently continues her column writing at Star newspaper and remains active in her literary work.

Literary Works

Sibel Eraslan’s earliest short stories were published during her high school years in literary and Turkish literature magazines. Her first short story collection Balık ve Tango was published in 2006. In 2008 her short story collection Parçası Benden was released to readers. In her stories she explores themes such as alienation betrayal gender conflict women’s issues and identity.

In later years she wrote novels on Islamic history and the wives of the Prophet. In works such as Çöl / Deniz Hz. Hatice (2009) Nil’in Melikesi Hz. Asiye (2011) Aişe (r.a.) (2014) and Zemzem’in Annesi Hazreti Hacer (2015) she portrayed historical and religious figures with literary language.

Main Works

• Fil Yazıları (2002)
• Balık ve Tango (2006) – Short Story
• Can Parçası Hz. Fatıma (2006)
• Parçası Benden (2008) – Short Story
• Çöl / Deniz Hz. Hatice (2009) – Novel
• Nil’in Melikesi Hazreti Asiye (2011) – Novel
• Kadın Sultanlar (2011) – Short Story
• Saklı Kitap (2013) – Novel
• Aişe (r.a.) (2014) – Novel
• Zemzem’in Annesi Hazreti Hacer (2015) – Novel
• Babam İçin Beyaz Bir Kuğu (2016) – Short Story
• 4 Defter Rumeli Rüzgârı (2016) – Short Story
• Canfeda / Hz. Fatıma (2018) – Novel
• Siret-i Meryem (2019) – Novel
• Ayrılık Üzüntülerin Annesidir (2021) – Short Story

Personal Life

Sibel Eraslan lives in Istanbul where she continues her writing. She continues to write on women’s rights human rights and social issues. In addition to her literary career she writes columns and participates in civil society initiatives.