Skip to main content
Turkish court orders hunger striker to be dragged in front of a judge
Kurdish opposition MP Leyla Guven faces 136 years in prison for ‘membership of a terrorist organisation’ following her arrest after criticising Turkey’s illegal invasion and occupation of Afrin
Hunger-striking Kurdish MP Leyla Guven

A Turkish court has ordered that hunger-striking Kurdish opposition MP Leyla Guven be forced to appear before it after she failed to attend a hearing on trumped-up terrorism charges. 

Ms Guven faces 136 years in prison for “membership of a terrorist organisation” following her arrest  last January for criticising Turkey’s illegal invasion and occupation of Afrin in northern Syria.

Ms Guven’s lawyer Serdar Celebi demanded the abandonment of the case against his client.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
ETHNIC STRIFE: Women condemn, yesterday, a video in circulation that allegedly shows a fighter affiliated with the Syrian government holding the braid of a Kurdish female fighter after killing her, in Qamishli, northeastern Syria
Middle East / 23 January 2026
23 January 2026

VIJAY PRASHAD details how US support for Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa allowed him to break the resistance of the autonomous Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

Britain’s biggest hunger strike in decades – and the media won’t touch it
Features / 4 December 2025
4 December 2025

As Palestine Action prisoners go weeks without food, alleging dangerous neglect and detention without trial, campaigners warn that a near-total media blackout is hiding a crisis that could turn fatal – and fuel a growing wave of public anger. ELIZABETH SHORT reports

A woman is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square, Westminster, central London, August 9, 2025
Activism / 13 August 2025
13 August 2025

Thousands expected to attend next protest against Palestine Action ban, organisers say