ADANA - Mehmet Şirin Bozçalı, who was arrested in Mersin on 22 July 1992 and sentenced to life imprisonment by the State Security Court for "disrupting the unity and integrity of the state", was released from Bolu F-Type Closed Prison after 33 years. 

 

Bozçalı, who suffers from hepatitis B, had been arbitrarily postponed twice before by the Administration and Observation Board (İGK) because he refused to accept "remorse".

 

After his release, yesterday Bozçalı moved to Gülbahçe neighbourhood of Adana's Seyhan district. Bozçalı was welcomed with flowers by the executives of Adana Mediterranean Association for Assistance and Solidarity with Families of the Disappeared (AKKAY-DER), Peace Mothers, Adana Association for Assistance to Families of Prisoners and Detainees (TUAY-DER) and his family.

 

Bozçalı thanked those who came to welcome him and talked about the Peace and Democratic Society Process. Bozçalı emphasised that democracy can come to the country by lifting the isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and ensuring his physical freedom: "This country needs democracy and peace as much as it needs bread and water."