The opposition MP Leyla Güven, a member of parliament for the HDP in the region of Hakkari has been unexpectedly released by Turkish authorities after her arrest on Friday 5th drew strong criticism in Turkey and around the globe.
Leyla Güven has previously drawn a great deal of attention to the cause of political prisoners in Turkey through her key role in last year’s hunger strikes protesting political repression in Turkey . Her arrest alongside with the arrest of fellow HDP MP Musa Farisoğulları, and the CHP MP Enis Berberlioğlu drew international condemnation.
Activists across Europe protested the undemocratic arrests with several protests taking place in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Protests condemned the attacks as a continuation of the racist anti-Kurd politics of the AKP-MHP regime.
Similarly, in Northern Ireland Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew called for the immediate release of the MPs who had been undemocratically imprisoned by the government.
Protests also took place in Turkey with the HDP and others condemning the arrests. In Kobane in Northern Syria a march led by local women’s groups took place to condemn the arrests.
The famous Palestinian revolutionary Leyla Khaled joined activists in expressing her solidarity with Leyla Güven; calling for Leyla’s release.
Following strong criticism from activists, politicians and lawyers the state has now released Leyla Güven. Upon her release Güven called for the release of her colleague Musa Farisoğulları along with all other political prisoners inside the Turkish prison system.