Windows To The World

Arabesk

By Barbara Nadel

'I have this unpleasant feeling that when I don't work I actually cease to exist.' said Police Inspector Ikmen of the Istanbul police to his son Sinan. Cetin Ikmen the head of the serious crime squad of Istanbul, Turkey is on an enforced leave of absence while on sick leave due his ulcer problem. He is tearing his hair out from boredom  and from being denied his cigarettes and his brandy.

Taking his place temporarily is his newly promoted assistant  Inspector Mehmet Suleyman, a man of aristocratic background. 

The first major case that he is called to is the murder of the wife of a music super star Erol Urfa who is an Arabesk singer.   She has been found dead in their apartment amidst the smell of bitter almonds. Ruya is Urfa’s  secret wife. News that Erol was married comes as a surprise to the public and has a unusual effect on his lover, an aging movie star, old enough to be his mother who's  is doing everything possible to retain the illusion of youth because she is also loved by the people.

Arabesk music is a blend traditional Turkish music and ornate Egyptian laments. It has been called the 'music of the slums'. Most of it's performers, many of whom originate from the countryside, possess keen, often painful memories of poverty among the shanty districts and cheap tower blocks which house many of the peasants that come to the city in search of work. The melodies are mournful as well as critical of the plight of the poor, and Arabesk is sometimes used by politicians to gain support and banned by the same politicians who feel that it undermines the nation's happiness.

The Bosporus

One very important aspect of the story is that it involves  a religion that is practiced by the Kurds.  Known as ‘Yazidi’,  its practitioners play a significant part in this mystery. Followers of this religion are often outcasts because it is thought that they worship Satan. In fact, according to the Yazidi creation story, when God created the world he left it in the care of seven angels, the most important of these being the peacock angel, referred to as Shaytan or Shaitan. This led to the belief that Yazidis worshiped Satan. Followers of the religion do not wear blue so that they do not distract people from seeing the blue in the peacock. They do not eat chicken or corn either and this is a subtle way to identify the practitioners of this religion. Because of the prejudice against these practices, the members keep their religious convictions a secret.

Blue Mosque

Nadel makes her characters come to life. Their very human qualities endear them to the reader.There are a set of recurring characters that are fascinating as well as interesting The city of Istanbul, in the heart of the long gone Ottoman empire crowded near the Bosporus is a character in itself. It is wonderful to see beneath the surface of the ancient city as Nadel educates us on Turkish life and customs.

 In ARABESK, Nadel looks at a society, that has existed for millennia and which reflect the beliefs and cultures of the many  invaders who have ruled for awhile until they were replaced  by other invaders. The Hittites, the Persians , the Romans, the greeks and finally the Ottomans have left their mark on this part of the world.

Arabesque Pattern

 Islam forbids the use of the human form in art. Thus in most art forms  there are repeated designs which repeat almost infinitely. Mistakes are deliberately made to show that humans err. ARABESK is a story of errors, that are repeated leading to murder. A murder investigation that is tortuous and also repetitive finally leads to a satisfying conclusion. This is the third Inspector Ikmen mystery and if you are fortunate you will have the experience of reading more of them.