KNK Women's Commission slammed Leyla Güven's arrest and said, “Leyla played an important role in national unity efforts during an important process. For this reason, the fascist regime jailed Leyla Güven in an inhuman and brutal way”.
The Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) Women's Commission released a written statement regarding the arrest of DTK co-chair and HDP Hakkari Deputy Leyla Güven.
The statement said that the AKP-MHP government created itself through destroying the achievements, cultures and beliefs of the oppressed peoples, and pointed to the attacks against women, women's gains, the Kurdish people, workers, artists and all segments of society.
The statement continued; “This dictatorial regime is most afraid of the free women's movement and women's organization. It is in pursuit of dismantling the women's struggle through the heaviest and inhumane attacks. Leyla Güven has been fighting against the threats and attacks of fascist regimes for years, with the belief of free life and the consciousness of free women, and never bowed down.
Leyla Güven was elected as a deputy in Hakkari on June 24, 2018 with a high rate of votes. Leyla was not only a deputy in the parliament of Ankara, but also the co-chair of the Democratic Society Congress. She has a revolutionary stance against all kinds of cruelty and tyranny. The dictatorial regime is fighting against the Kurdish people not only in Bakur (North) but also in four parts of Kurdistan, and seeks to destroy the gains of the Kurdish people. Leyla played an important role in such an important process of national unity work. For this reason, the fascist regime jailed Leyla Güven in a brutal and inhuman manner, violating its own laws. With these practices, it tries to curtail all opposing voices and to create a docile society without critical reflections. However, we know well that everywhere is suited to a struggle for people like Leyla. Free women do not back down in the face of threats and arrests. Leyla Güven was sentenced to 22 years and 3 months in prison for her activities within the Democratic Society Congress. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that it is not right to consider DTK's activities illegal in the case of HDP former co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş.
It should be known well that oppression and tyranny only prompt us to increase our struggle. We never recognize the practices of the fascist regime. We will increase our struggle and resistance in all areas of life."
