Turkey: Former HDP deputy gets prison sentence

By Aziz Aslan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) - A Turkish court on Monday sentenced a former deputy from the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) to over 20 years in prison for being a member of an armed terrorist group and making propaganda for it twice, according to a judicial source.

The Heavy Penal Court no: 9 in southeastern Diyarbakir province handed Leyla Guven 22 years and three months in prison, and issued an arrest warrant for her, said the source on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

On June 4, the Turkish parliament revoked the seat of Leyla Guven.

The final judgments of the judicial proceeding on HDP lawmaker Guven was read out in the general assembly.

Guven was sentenced to six years and three months by a provincial court for being a member of an armed terror organization.

She was sent to prison, a day after parliament revoked her seat and legislative immunity.

After that, on June 9, a Turkish court ruled in favor of releasing Guven from prison

The HDP is accused of having links to the YPG/PKK terror group by the Turkish government.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is its Syrian offshoot.​​​​​​​