DTK Co-Chair Leyla Güven arrested

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Sentenced to 22 years, 3 months in prison, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven has arrested in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), Güven was taken to the Counterterrorism Branch following her medical check. There was reportedly a 24-hour detention warrant against the politician.

While Güven was expected to be referred to the courthouse tomorrow (December 23), the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that Güven would be sent to prison after the ruling of arrest was pronounced.

Güven was referred to the courthouse today. Arrested after the ruling was read out, she has been sent to Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison.

'I will continue doing politics'

"If I had the intention to flee, you would not have noticed it whatsoever," Güven said while being detained. "I am not going anywhere. I will continue doing politics in this country, inside or outside... It takes courage to walk in the face of the tyrant like this," she indicated further.

Arrest warrant

Güven was standing trial over her statements regarding the Operation Olive Branch carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces in Syria's Afrin and her speeches in previous meetings. The politician had her final hearing at the Diyarbakır 9th Heavy Penal Court yesterday (December 21).

The court has ruled that Güven shall be sentenced to 14 years, 3 months in prison on charge of "being the member of an organization" and 8 years in total for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" twice. She has been sentenced to 22 years, 3 months in total on the offenses charged.

While the court has ruled that Leyla Güven shall be arrested, she has been acquitted of the charges filed by 16 indictments.

She was stripped of MP status

As part of another trial at the Diyarbakır 2nd Heavy Penal Court, former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Leyla Güven was sentenced to 6 years, 3 months in prison on charge of "being the member of an armed terrorist organization." This prison sentence of the politician was upheld by the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

Güven was then stripped of MP status on the grounds that there were final court verdicts against her. (TP/SD)