Leyla Güven

Leyla Guven (cropped)

Turkish politician and activist

Leyla Güven (born 6 May 1964) is a Kurdish politician and activist from Turkey. She is a prominent member of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and has been involved in various political and social movements advocating for the rights of the Kurdish people and other marginalized communities in Turkey.

Early Life and Education

Leyla Güven was born in Cihanbeyli, a district in the Konya Province of Turkey. She grew up in a Kurdish family and was exposed to the political struggles of the Kurdish community from a young age. Güven pursued her education in Turkey, although specific details about her educational background are not widely documented.

Political Career

Güven's political career began with her involvement in the Democratic Society Party (DTP), a pro-Kurdish political party in Turkey. She later joined the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which succeeded the DTP after it was banned. Güven has held various positions within these parties, including serving as a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP)

In 2015, Leyla Güven became a member of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a left-wing political party in Turkey that advocates for minority rights, including those of the Kurdish people. She was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the HDP in the June 2018 Turkish general election.

Activism and Imprisonment

Leyla Güven is known for her activism, particularly in advocating for the rights of Kurdish people and political prisoners in Turkey. In January 2018, she was arrested for her criticism of Turkey's military operations in Afrin, Syria. While in prison, she began a hunger strike in November 2018 to protest the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Her hunger strike gained international attention and support from various human rights organizations.

Release and Continued Activism

Güven was released from prison in January 2019, but she continued her activism and political work. She has been a vocal critic of the Turkish government's policies towards the Kurdish community and has continued to advocate for human rights and democracy in Turkey.

Personal Life

Leyla Güven is a mother of two children. Her personal experiences and struggles have significantly influenced her political and activist work.

See Also

• Peoples' Democratic Party (Turkey)
• Kurdish people
• Abdullah Öcalan
• Kurdistan Workers' Party
• Human rights in Turkey