UPDATED: Renowned Kurdish politician Leyla Zana detained in Turkey
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The renowned Kurdish politician Leyla Zana was temporarily detained in Diyarbakir on Wednesday.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) representative for Agri was detained by police when entering Diyarbakir city. She is to give a statement in connection with investigations being carried out by the Agri Public Prosecutor’s office, relatives told Dogan News Agency.
She has been released under judicial control after giving her testimony in court, ANF News reported.
Zana spent 10 years in prison after defying Turkish law in 1991 and reciting part of her oath of parliament in Kurdish. "I take this oath for the brotherhood between the Turkish people and the Kurdish people," she had said, earning herself a 10-year prison term.
HDP, in a tweet, said Zana's detention "cannot hinder our struggle for peace and democracy."
Zana spent 10 years in prison after defying Turkish law in 1991 and reciting part of her oath of parliament in Kurdish. "I take this oath for the brotherhood between the Turkish people and the Kurdish people," she had said, earning herself a 10-year prison term.
She was released in 2004 and re-elected as an MP in 2011, according to Hurriyet Daily News.
At least 26 HDP parliamentarians have been detained since last November, after the Turkish parliament voted to lift immunity from a select group of MPs, including many HDP members accused of having ties with the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).