Arrest warrant against politician Leyla Güven

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Facing 18 different charges as part of combined bills of indictment, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven had her final hearing at the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court today (December 21).

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), while Leyla Güven did not attend today's hearing, her attorneys Serdar Çelebi and Cemile Turhallı Balsak were present in the courtroom in southeastern Diyarbakır province.

CLICK - DTK Co-Chair Leyla Güven summoned to depose

Ruling of arrest

In his opinion as to the accusations, the public prosecutor demanded that the politician be penalized on charges of "establishing and leading an organization", "being a member of an organization", "inciting the public to unlawful meetings and demonstrations" and "unarmed attendance in an unlawful meeting and refusing to disperse despite warnings."

The prosecutor also demanded that Güven be acquitted of the charges brought against her by 16 bills of indictment. 

Announcing its ruling following the defenses, the court board has ruled that Leyla Güven shall be sentenced to 22 years, 3 months in prison. The court has also issued an arrest warrant against the politician.

While Güven has been sentenced to 14 years, 3 months for "membership of the organization", she has been sentenced to 4 years each for "terror propaganda" over her speeches in Batman and Diyarbakır provinces. The politician has been acquitted of the charges filed by 16 indictments.

'Enemy law'

Journalist Sabiha Temizkan, the daughter of Leyla Güven, has lashed out at the ruling on her Twitter account:

"My mother Leyla Güven has been sentenced to 22 years, 3 months in prison over her DTK activities. Due to the activities of the DTK, which was once addressed by the state itself and with which the state had meetings! What is this, if not the enemy law?"

Annem Leyla Güven hakkında DTK faaliyetleri nedeniyle 22 yıl 3 ay hapis cezası verildi. Bir dönem devletin bizzat muhatap aldığı, görüşmeler yaptığı DTK’nın faaliyetleri nedeniyle! Bu düşman hukuku değil de nedir? https://t.co/KdYukltDMn

— sabiha temizkan (@sabihatemizkan) December 21, 2020

(EMK/SD)