Open letter to British FM Raab demands Leyla Güven's release from jail in Turkey

Dozens of campaigners, trade unionists and MPs have signed an open letter to British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to demand the release of prominent Kurdish politician Leyla Güven from prison. "We look forward to your swift response to this urgent matter and to securing the immediate release of Ms. Güven," read the letter.

Thursday December 24 2020 05:24 pm

Duvar English

Dozens of campaigners, trade unionists and MPs have signed an open letter to British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to demand the release of prominent Kurdish politician Leyla Güven, who was arrested on Dec. 21, from a Turkish prison.

The letter from Peace in Kurdistan was signed by author Naom Chomsky, MP Jeremy Corbyn, Stop the War Coalition’s Linday German, Unite international director Simon Dubbins and many others.

It urged Raab to use his influence on Turkey to secure Güven’s immediate release and to raise concerns over the “ongoing clampdown on democracy” in Turkey.

"We look forward to your swift response to this urgent matter and to securing the immediate release of Ms. Güven," read the letter.

“Turkey must be reminded of its obligations to abide by international law and the decisions of institutions including the European Court of Human Rights,” it said.

“Britain must ensure that basic and fundamental rights are upheld by Turkey and consider what course of action to take if it fails to do so.”

Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair and former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Güven was handed 22 years and three months in prison on three separate terrorism charges on Dec. 21.