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Jailed HDP deputy goes on hunger strike

Jailed Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Leyla Güven on Wednesday announced that she had started a hunger strike, the Diken news website reported.

Güven’s decision came after the prison administration refused to bring her to court for a hearing on Wednesday when she objected to being handcuffed during her transportation.

She was elected as a deputy from Hakkari province in the general election on June 24; however, the court refused to release her despite her newly gained immunity from prosecution.

The court on Wednesday once again rejected her lawyer’s request for release. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 26.

Güven was detained on Jan. 31 due to her criticism of a Turkish military offensive in northern Syria. The indictment demands between 17.5 and 31.5 years in prison.

HDP Co-chair Sezai Temelli on Sunday announced that some 6,000 members of their party were behind bars.

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