Leyla Güven’s Arrest Continues: 'We Can Find No Other Reason Than Political Motives'

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The case, in which People's Democratic Party (HDP) MP for Hakkari province Leyla Güven is being tried for her statements regarding the Afrin operation and her works at the Democratic Society Congress (HDK), has continued at the 9th Heavy Penal Court in Diyarbakır.

MP Güven faces 25 to 46,5 years in prison. The hearing has been held at the same court hall as the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) cases.

Güven, who is on the 49th day of her hunger strike, was not present at the hearing. It has been ruled that her arrest shall continue. The hearing has been adjourned to January 25, 2019.

Serdar Çelebi, an attorney for Güven, told bianet that the Presiding Judge who previously ruled for Güven's release, has excused himself from the hearing. Çelebi has stated the following regarding the case:

'Her release was in fact stopped'

"Ms. Güven was arrested because of the posts that she shared on a social media site regarding the Afrin operation.

"The court ruled for her release in response to the appeal that we made right after she was elected as MP.

"Following the verdict of release, she was not released from the prison until the evening. Her release was in fact stopped in order to wait for the objection of the Prosecutor's Office.

CLICK - Verdict of Release Issued for Leyla Güven Reversed

"We went to the prison when it was not even known if the objection would be accepted or not. When we were asking "Why a release form is not filled?", the objection of the Prosecutor's Office was accepted and it has been ruled that her arrest shall continue.

"There is no evidence to collect, no danger for spoliation of evidence, no possibility for a break away, she is an MP. All these consequently show that the case is continuing for not legal but political motives.

"As lawyers who know the case, we cannot find another reason."

'Presiding Judge who ruled for her release did not attend the hearing'

When asked about their expectations about the judicial process from now on, the attorney said,

"Because there is no expected evidence or anything in the case, we are not able to say, 'This or that will happen legally.'

"The Presiding Judge of the 9th Heavy Penal Court, who ruled for Güven's release before, does not attend hearings. He presents excuses.

'She is entering a critical stage in hunger strike'

"The next case will be held on January 25. Our client is in hunger strike, her medical condition is critical. Every moment from now on can potentially cause permanent damage. She should be released immediately but unfortunately her arrest will continue."

The ones who attended the hearing

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk, HDP MPs Ayşe Acar Başaran, Selçuk Mızraklı, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, Semra Güzel, Ebru Günay, Meral Danış Beştaş, Saliha Aydeniz, Musa Farisoğulları, Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir, Remziye Tosun, Tayip Temel, Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, Hişyar Özsoy, İmam Taşçıer, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair, Mehmet Arslan, Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan, People's Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Onur Hamzaoğlu and children of Güven. 

(PT/VK)