This collaborative effort, with the participation of 83 writers, academics, and activists from Türkiye and 10 from Palestine, is published by Ekin Publishing House.
The project takes its name from a famous verse by the great Egyptian poet Ahmed Shawqi, which says: "Freedom has a red door... knocked on by every blood-stained hand." This reflects the symbolism of the series' title, which is inspired by the sacrifices made by Palestinians on their path to liberation, particularly in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.
The work consists of three books. The first deals with place, documenting the destruction, pain, and hope witnessed in areas such as Rafah, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun, by documenting people's voices, prayers, and screams amidst the rubble of schools, hospitals, and homes.
The second book deals with symbolism, tracing the meanings embodied in simple details such as the keffiyeh, notebooks, and everyday tools that have become living testaments to identity and resistance.
The third book, meanwhile, sheds light on the human being, presenting testimonies and stories of individuals who have shaped a collective memory of steadfastness and martyrdom, such as Reem, her grandfather Khaled Nabhan (Soul of the Soul), and the doctor detained by the occupation, Hussam Abu Safiyya.
In its introduction to the trilogy, the team behind the work emphasizes that "Kizilkapi" does more than just tell the story of Gaza, but rather shows how a person can sink to the bottom through acts of genocide, as the occupation does, or rise through steadfastness and dignity.
This 756-page work represents a literary and emotional testimony to a memory that the Israeli occupation was unable to erase through bombing, but rather is reinforced by words and preserved for generations to come.
The series' launch event is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 30, at the Taksim Culture and Arts Center in Istanbul, with the attendance of several of the book's contributors and cultural and media figures. The evening will include selected readings from the texts, along with short talks on the project's background and significance.
