European Free Alliance: Release Leyla Güven

European Free Alliance (EFA), a constituent of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, has released a written statement and demanded the release of Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair and dismissed Hakkari MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Leyla Güven.

"Güven's arrest and charge is representative of a history of oppression against the Kurdish population in Turkey," the statement has read.

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Sentenced to 22 years, 3 months in prison, Leyla Güven has been arrested in Elazığ Prison since December 22, 2020.

'HDP calls it a hostile act against all Kurds'

Releasing a statement against the backdrop of ongoing indefinite-alternate hunger strikes in Turkey's prisons as well, the EFA has demanded an end to the imprisonment of Leyla Güven and all other political prisoners and to the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in İmralı Island in western Turkey.

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Reminding the public that "in January 2019, Leyla Güven was released from prison following an 80-day hunger strike," the alliance has said:

"However, in December 2020, Leyla Güven was sentenced to 22 years in prison on terror charges. The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Güven's political party, said it would appeal against the sentence, calling it 'a hostile act against all Kurds and the entire opposition.'

"Güven, 56, was an MP for the HDP and the co-leader of the Democratic Society Congress – an assembly of representatives from civil society organisations, political parties, lawyers and human rights defenders."

'End the isolation, release political prisoners'

"Güven's arrest and charge is representative of a history of oppression against the Kurdish population in Turkey. Today marks the 60th day of political prisoner hunger strikes, in which the strikers call for Turkey to end the isolation imposed on Kurdish leader Mr Abdullah Öcalan.

"Öcalan's lawyers insist that both Turkish law and 'international rules are not being applied' in regards to his imprisonment.

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"With Turkey actively seeking EU accession, the lack of democratic process and disregard for international law around prison conditions is concerning. The Turkish government's use of extreme isolation and prison sentences for those who oppose the government must end.

"European Free Alliance (EFA) calls for the end of the isolation regime for Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and the release of all political prisoners in Turkey. Talks between Erdogan's government and Kurdish authorities must resume in order to find a political solution that leads to a genuine coexistence of all communities and peoples in a democratic Turkey."

About European Free Alliance

It is an umbrella organisation that gathers 47 nationalist, regionalist and autonomist parties throughout the EU, representing stateless nations, emerging new States, regions and traditional minorities in Europe. 

The European Free Alliance is a European Political Party recognized by the European Parliament since 2004. It is financed by the European Parliament and EFA Members. It is classified as a non-governmental organisation (asbl/vzw) under Belgian law. (SD)