Leyla Zana was charged with “spreading propaganda” in nine speeches she had given over the years. In addition to that she was accused of having close links to the PKK, Kurdistan Workers’ Party – a group labelled a terrorist organisation, which is fighting against the Turkish state for an autonomous Kurdistan.

Previous convictions

According to Reuters, Leyla Zana had already been convicted for the same nine speeches in 2007-2008, but her conviction was overturned by an appeals court on the grounds that she had not had an adequate opportunity to defend herself. She went on a new trial in the main south-eastern city of Diyarbakir, resulting in 10-year jail sentence. Courts in Turkey have imposed a series of prison sentences on Zana in recent years under anti-terrorism laws, but she is still at large as these cases are at the appeal stage.

As an MP, Zana enjoys parliamentary immunity, so her conviction will not take effect until she leaves parliament. The next election is set for 2015. Zana and her lawyer did not attend the hearing. They were not immediately available to comment on the verdict.

Profile: Leyla Zana

Leyla Zana was the first Kurdish woman to win a seat in the Turkish Parliament in 1991. Her decision to give the Parliamentary Oath in Kurdish led to immediate calls for her arrest. This was the first time Kurdish had been spoken in the Turkish Parliament. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison but was released in 2004 due to international pressure. Zana received the Rafto Prize in 1994 and the Sakharov Prize the following year.

According to the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC), Leyla Zana continues to be an outspoken, courageous and loyal ambassador to the Kurdish people and to women in particular. The fact that she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on several occasions clearly shows her international significance and recognition. During the indefinite hunger strike in Strasbourg this spring, Leyla Zana was officially received by the President of the European Parliament Mr. Martin Schultz, political groups in the European parliament as well as the European Commission to speak about the situation of the 15 hunger strikers and the current development in Turkey.

EUTCC and the Rafto Foundation call on the European Union in particular to take political action to condemn Turkey for having convicted the legally elected MP Leyla Zana to ten years in prison simply for having uttered herself as a free citizen. 

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