Tara Korkmaz, the English translator of the novel Sijin, told Hawcharkh:

The first time I read Sijin, I said to myself, This novel must be translated into English. This is because, in a way, this novel represents the voice of a part of the Middle East that has had minimal presence within the English language so far. In particular, this novel shows a distinct dimension of Kurdish life that I have not seen anyone else delve into in such depth before. Therefore, out of my own desire and without any compensation, I undertook the translation of this work. Of course, I know this is not professional practice, and I might anger professional translators with this action, but the truth is that I do not view translation as a job, nor do I make a living from it. I only engage in translation out of personal passion and for the things I truly believe in.

I have lived in an English-speaking country for nearly forty years and work as an academic in the arts, with a personal background in writing poetry; yet, translation remains an exceptionally demanding task. It is not merely a matter of rendering a work from one language into another, but of conveying an entire world into another world. This is especially true when dealing with an author like Haras, who leaves no word to chance and employs a deeply ironic and satirical tone throughout this novel.

For this reason, I felt it necessary to stay in close communication with the author at every stage. Whenever I hesitated over a sentence, I consulted him to ensure my reading aligned precisely with his intent. Additionally, I sent the manuscript to three other English-speaking academics for peer review before publication, and all three found the prose compelling, natural, and highly accessible.

All of this extended the translation process over a year, but it ultimately yielded a work I will take pride in for the rest of my life. I now eagerly await the author’s next novel.