IHD visits Leyla Güven in prison

A delegation of the IHD has visited Kurdish politician Leyla Güven in prison. The former HDP deputy is said to be in good health and psychologically well.

A delegation from the Human Rights Association (IHD) visited Kurdish politician Leyla Güven, who is imprisoned in E-Type Prison in Elazığ. The delegation included IHD Vice Chairwoman Rehşan Bataray Saman and Abdullah Zeytun and Yusuf Erdoğan from the association's board in Amed (Diyarbakir).

IHD subsequently announced that the visit took place on March 5. Accordingly, Leyla Güven made a good impression with regard to her health and mental condition. During the visit, the conditions of detention and the legal process were discussed, and current political developments were also discussed in this context. "As IHD, we always want to strengthen democratic politics and support all peaceful political measures that are absolutely necessary for this," the human rights association stated.

The IHD pointed out that as a result of the systematic authoritarian government policy, numerous politicians, journalists and opposition activists in Turkey are in prison and sentenced to long prison terms. “This violates the freedom of expression and the right to political activity, a fair judicial process and personal freedom and security. All those whose right to a fair trial is being violated should be released.”

Leyla Güven is a former member of parliament for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and was sentenced in December 2020 in Amed to 22 years and three months in prison for "forming and leading a terrorist organization" - meaning the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The charge was based on the fact that Güven is co-chair of the DTK (Democratic Society Congress), an umbrella organization of political parties, civil society organizations, religious communities, and delegates of municipal councils in the Kurdish regions of the country.