Ahmet Altan is one of Turkey's most important writers. In the purge following the failed coup in July 2016, Altan was sent to prison pending trial for giving 'subliminal messages' in support of the coup. In February 2018 he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for attempting to overthrow the government. 51 Nobel laureates signed an open letter to President Erdogan calling for Altan's release.

Yasemin Çongar is a writer and translator. Her translation of Ahmet Altan's I Will Never See The World Again was long-listed for Baillie Gifford Prize in 2019.