Mehmet Şirin Bozçalı, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1992 by the unlawful State Security Court of the time, was released after 33 years and was welcomed in his hometown of Adana.
Mehmet Şirin Bozçalı was detained and arrested on July 22, 1992. At the State Security Court, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of “undermining the unity and integrity of the state.”
Bozçalı, who suffers from Hepatitis B, had his release arbitrarily postponed twice by the Administrative and Observation Board (IGK) because he refused to accept the imposed “repentance” requirement.
After spending 33 years in prison, Bozçalı was finally released on 20 August from Bolu F-Type High-Security Prison.
Following his release, he was greeted with joy in the Gülbahçe neighborhood of Adana’s Seyhan district.
Bozçalı was welcomed with flowers by members of the Adana Mediterranean Families Association for Solidarity with the Bereaved (AKKAY-DER), Peace Mothers, the Adana Association for Solidarity with Families of Prisoners and Convicts (TUAY-DER), and his family.
In a brief speech, Bozçalı referred to the “Peace and Democratic Society Process” initiated by Abdullah Öcalan, and said that his freedom would bring democracy to the country. “This country needs democracy and peace as much as it needs bread and water,” he said.