@les.krd: Leyla Zana is a prominent Kurdish politician, activist, and human rights defender from North Kurdistan (Turkey). She made history in 1991 as the first Kurdish woman elected to the Turkish Parliament. Here’s what she did and why she is significant: Key Facts About Leyla Zana: 1. Election to Parliament (1991) - She was elected as a member of the People’s Labor Party (HEP), a pro-Kurdish party, representing Diyarbakır. - Her election was groundbreaking because she was one of the first Kurdish women to hold such a position in Turkey. 2. Controversial Oath Speech (1991) - During her parliamentary oath, she added a sentence in Kurdish: "I take this oath for the brotherhood of the Turkish and Kurdish peoples." - Speaking Kurdish in Parliament was banned at the time, and her statement caused a political uproar. 3. Imprisonment (1994–2004) - In 1994, she was arrested along with other Kurdish MPs (including Hatip Dicle, Orhan Doğan, and Selim Sadak). - She was charged with "membership in the PKK" (a banned Kurdish militant group) and "separatism"*m—accusations she denied. - She was sentenced to 15 years in prison but was released in 2004 after a decade behind bars, following pressure from the European Union and human rights groups. 4. Nobel Peace Prize Nomination & International Recognition - While in prison, she was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought (1995) by the European Parliament. - She was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times. 5. Later Political Career - After her release, she continued advocating for Kurdish rights and peace negotiations between Turkey and Kurdish groups. - She was re-elected to Parliament in 2011 but faced legal troubles again over her political statements. Legacy Leyla Zana remains a symbol of Kurdish resistance and women’s political struggle in Turkey. Her case highlighted Turkey’s strict policies on Kurdish identity and free speech in the 1990s. #laylazana #kurd #kurdistan #leskrd #lesacademy