Leyla Zana

Quick Facts

• Region: Diyarbakir Province, Turkey
• Born: May 3, 1961, Silvan (Turkey)
• Died: Living
• Known for: Member of the Turkish parliament, human-rights activism

Overview

Leyla Zana is a Kurdish politician in Turkey known for her activism on Kurdish rights and democratic reform. She served as a member of the Grand National Assembly and became internationally recognized for her advocacy.

Zana received the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize in 1995 for her human-rights work, though she accepted the award only after her release from prison.

Life and Leadership

She entered parliament in 1991 and gained prominence for speaking Kurdish in the chamber. Her subsequent imprisonment made her a symbol of Kurdish political struggle in Turkey.

Legacy

Zana remains one of the most prominent Kurdish women in politics and continues to be associated with nonviolent advocacy and democratic reform.