Pervin Buldan and Ebru Günay visit Leyla Güven in prison

HDP politicians Pervin Buldan and Ebru Günay have visited their faction colleague Leyla Güven in prison in Elazığ. The visit was announced by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) via Twitter: “Our co-chairwoman Pervin Buldan and our party spokeswoman Ebru Günay visited our deputy Leyla Güven, who has been held hostage, and sent her greetings from millions of people and especially from the women who filled the streets on Newroz,” read the tweet with a photo taken outside the prison.

Leyla Güven has been in prison again for almost two years. The former HDP deputy and co-chair of the civil society association (Democratic Society Congress, tr. DTK) continues her struggle even as a political prisoner and speaks out publicly whenever possible. At Monday’s huge Newroz celebration in Amed, a greeting was read in which the politician expressed her belief that the Kurdish people would continue to resist for lack of other alternatives:

“The third world war continues. We are experiencing a time when all systems are forced to change. Lawlessness, injustice and inequality have taken on a global dimension, borders are losing their meaning, societies no longer want to live without a status. A new century is taking shape. This time the imperialist war barons are playing their trump cards over Ukraine. No one can understand the people of Ukraine as well as the Kurdish and Palestinian people.”

With Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish people are also being isolated and this state of affairs is especially noticeable in prison, Leyla Güven continued: “We are not dependent on pity in our just and legitimate struggle. As Kurdish women, we say that we will establish a unity, togetherness and national alliance in Bakur, Bashur, Rojhilat and Rojava and enter a new era. With global radical democracy, we will achieve a socialist world, a democratic Middle East and a free society.” Essential to this, she said, is women-led resistance and confidence in one’s own strength.