AWARDS 2007 VIII. Lions Theatre "Unique New Play" Award, with 'I'm Breaking the Game'. 2004 Turkish Publishers Association's "Freedom of Statement and Idea Award", with 'Stop Hurting My Flesh'. Arikan's fourth novel, 'Stop Hurting My Flesh', which included women's trauma stories of child abuse, harassment and incest had been banned in early 2004 by the 'Committee to Protect the Minors from Obscene Publications', a body established under the Prime Ministry, with the accusation of 'Writing about the non-existing incest fact in Turkey, while using Turkish names for the characters, attempting to disturb the Turkish Family Order with a feminist approach'. Following the legal procedures, the ban was lifted by the '1st Magistrate Criminal Court' after two months, and the book was published once again without being subjected to any censorship. This "Freedom of Statement and Idea Award" has been given to Meltem Arikan as a result of this process. 2003 Nigde University Talebe Journal's "Best Female Writer" Award, with 'Undressing Herself'.