HDP MP Leyla Güven Banned From Being Visited in Prison for 1 Month

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The Co-Chair of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) and Hakkari MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Leyla Güven, who has been arrested for criticizing the Afrin Operation launched into Syria by the Turkish Armed Forces with the support of Free Syrian Army (FSA), has been banned from being visited in prison for a month.

Leyla Güven, who has been held in Diyarbakır Type E Prison for seven months and was elected as the Hakkari MP of the HDP in parliamentary election on June 24, 2018, sang a song with her friend in the prison cell. However, interpreting the song as an anthem, the prison administration has given Güven a one-month disciplinary punishment.

Güven's attorney, Şivan Cemil Özen has stated that the ban in question has been imposed because his attorney chanted a slogan in prison.

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.

An appeal made to Diyarbakır 9th Heavy Penal Court for release of Güven was concluded on June 29, and the court ruled release of the MP. However, prosecutor's office objected took the decision to the higher court. Evaluating the objection, 10th Heavy Penal Court reversed the decision of release. (HA/SD)