In a message for International Women's Day, former HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, imprisoned in Turkey, wished women all the best on their day of struggle. In a statement delivered via Yüksekdağ's Twitter account, the HDP politician said: “Women who oppose patriarchal and state violence, wars and discrimination will win. We send our heartfelt and passionate greetings and our love to the women who will take to the streets [on 8 March]. May all the hopes, resistances, rebellions, efforts and joys of the women of this world unite! For a nicer, fairer and free life for all women and humanity, free from violence and exploitation."

Figen Yüksekdağ is the co-founder of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (Ezilenlerin Sosyalist Partisi, ESP) and was its chair until September 2014. After resigning from office, she joined the HDP. In the same year the ESP joined the HDP, which acts as an umbrella party for several small parties. At the second HDP congress, Figen Yüksekdağ was elected co-chair on 22 June 2014.

Together with the other co-chair, Selahattin Demirtaş, and numerous other HDP deputies, she was arrested on 4 November 2016 at the instigation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Since then, she has been held in custody in the Kandıra Maximum Security Prison.