Top Issue 1-2024

12 January 2019

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Protests call for the release of Leyla Guven

"We call upon the International Community to take urgent action and insist on the enforcement of the Mandela rules. And we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Leyla Guven MP."

Young republicans demonstrated in Dublin today in solidarity who Kurdish MP Leyla Guven who is currently on hunger strike in a Turkish Prison. 

Leyla Guven has been on hunger strike since November 7 and her supporters and campaigners have said her condition is now deteriorating and her life is in danger. 

Dozens of members of Ogra Shinn Féin gathered outside Dublin's Mansion House ahead of today's commemoration of the establishment on An Chead Dáil in solidarity with the Turkish MP. 

Demonstrators held signs expressing solidarity with Leyla Guven and the hundreds of other Kurdish political prisoners who have joined the hunger strike. 

Speaking at the protest, Antrim republican Collette McAllister called for the immediate release of Leyla Guven. 

"Today, we are joined by members of the Kurdish national congress – and we are sending a very clear message from Dublin to the Turkish authorities – that we demand Leyla’s immediate and unconditional release.

"The courage and conviction being shown by the actions of Leyla Guven – are a protest of the unjustifiable policy of absolute isolation that is being imposed on the Kurdish Worker’s Party Leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

"We demand an immediate end to the solitary confinement of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan and other political prisoners in Turkey - who are being held in gross violation of their human rights.

"We call upon the International Community to take urgent action and insist on the enforcement of the Mandela rules. And we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Leyla Guven MP," she said. 

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson met with the family and legal representatives of Leyla Guven in Diyarbakir today. 

Collette McAllister addressing the solidarity demonstration.

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