Turkey court orders release of hunger striking Kurdish MP

A hunger striking pro-Kurdish lawmaker was released under supervision from prison by a Turkish court and sent home on Friday, after an 11-week fast that has left her gravely ill.

Crowds of supporters gathered at a jail in the Kurdish majority southeastern city of Diyarbakir to cheer Leyla Guven, 55, who launched her hunger strike on November 8 to protest the prison conditions for outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Guven, from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was freed a few hours after the Diyarbakir court ordered her release under judicial supervision, which includes an overseas travel ban.

She was taken from the prison by an ambulance.

Guven, whose party says she has a "life-threatening" medical condition, did not attend the hearing.

The MP was arrested in January 2018 for her criticism of Turkey's military operation against a Syrian Kurdish militia that Ankara considers an offshoot of the PKK.

She started the hunger strike in prison and was supported by more than 150 prisoners across Turkey in a show of solidarity.

But her deteriorating health sparked concern and has seen rallies to support her cause.

Turkish police used buses and barricades outside the Diyarbakir prison to try to stop photographers from taking pictures of the ailing MP, as crowds of HDP supporters gathered in the area to show support.

"The authorities should not have waited for her to reach death's door," supporter Ramazan Yakar told AFP.

Another supporter in the crowd, Mehmet Cekikoglu, said Guven's release did not solve the party's problems, noting, "there are still many others held behind the bars".

HDP's co-chairwoman Pervin Buldan visited Guven at her home and said she would press ahead with the hunger strike.

"Leyla Guven keeps on with the hunger strike. She will continue at her home," Buldan said.

She said the Guven could change her decision if Ocalan was allowed to hold regular meetings with his lawyers and family members.

The images from the meeting showed a visibly weakened Guven wearing a medical mask on her mouth.

Doctors were due to examine the MP at her home later in the day and publish a report on her current state of health.

Guven's HDP party remains under the scrutiny of the Turkish authorities, which accuse it of links to the PKK. Several of its MPs are behind bars, including former party leader Selahattin Demirtas.

The HDP said on Twitter the court ordered the release of Guven "who started an indefinite hunger strike... to protest the isolation of Abdullah Ocalan".

It added: "Our struggle for democracy, peace and freedom will continue."
"Today we are here in Diyarbakir to support her voice."