First Picture from Leyla Güven After Her Release

In the wake of Diyarbakır 9th Heavy Penal Court’s verdict of release for HDP MP Leyla Güven, who has been on a hunger strike for 79 days, Güven has been released from prison. HDP Co-Chair Buldan has stated that she will continue her hunger strike.

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First Picture from Leyla Güven After Her Release

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After the Diyarbakır 9th Heavy Penal Court gave a verdict of release at her fifth hearing earlier today (January 25), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Hakkari MP and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven has been released from prison.

Being arrested in Diyarbakır Type E Prison, Leyla Güven has been on a hunger strike since November 7, 2018 with the demand that the isolation of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan be lifted.

HDP: The request of Güven should be accepted

After the verdict of release, a large group of people, including several HDP MPs, went to the Diyarbakır Prison. However, Güven was taken out of the prison in an ambulance and brought to her house in the district of Bağlar.

In the meanwhile, the first picture of Leyla Güven after she was released from prison has been shared on the official social media accounts of HDP:

Leyla Güven’in cezaevinden ambulans ile, kitleden kaçırılarak çıkarılması bu ülkenin ayıbıdır. Açlık grevi direnişinin 79. gününde olan Leyla Güven’in talebi kabul edilmeli, Sayın Öcalan üzerindeki tecrit bir an önce sona erdirilmelidir. pic.twitter.com/4PuCdUEAv7
— HDP (@HDPgenelmerkezi) 25 Ocak 2019

Criticizing the way in which Güven was taken out of the prison, the party has shared the picture of Güven with following remarks:

"It is a shame of this country that Leyla Güven was released from prison in an ambulance and by being moved away from the people.

"The request of Leyla Güven, who has been continuing her resistance of hunger strike for 79 days, should be accepted and the isolation on Dear [Abdullah] Öcalan should be immediately lifted."

Buldan: She will continue her hunger strike

Making a statement regarding the release of Güven from prison, HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan said:

"She has sent a message, which I would like to convey to you: On the 79th day of her hunger strike, she extends her thanks to everyone who has stood in solidarity with her. She said that she also received numerous messages from abroad and added that this solidarity has kept her on her feet.

"She announced that she will continue her hunger strike. Because her request has not been granted yet. She stated that she will end her strike on the day when Öcalan starts to meet with his attorneys and family on a regular basis. She said that tens of people are unlawfully behind bars. I am outside now, but my soul remains inside, she added."

What happened?

Leyla Güven, the Co-Chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), who was elected as the Hakkari MP of the HDP on June 24, was taken into custody in a raid conducted to her house on January 22, 2018.

Güven, who was arrested due to her statements regarding the Afrin operation, has been facing charges due to the statements for press and events that she attended and the statements that she made.

After being held in custody for nine days, she was arrested by the Diyarbakır 9th Heavy Penal Court on January 31, 2018.

A verdict of release was issued for her upon the application submitted to the court shortly after she was elected an MP. However, upon the objection of the Prosecutor's Office, the court again ruled that her arrest shall continue.

Going on a hunger strike in Diyarbakır Prison, she has been on a hunger strike for 79 days as of today.

(EMK/SD)