ISTANBUL - Faik Cirik was released after 30 years in Bandırma T-Type No. 1 Closed Prison. "We are not free as long as our leader is in Imralı Prison," he said.  

 

Faik Cirik, who was arrested in Mersin in 1995 and sentenced to life imprisonment, was released today from Bandırma T-Type No. 1 Closed Prison, where he had been imprsioned for 30 years. Cirik was greeted outside the prison by the Marmara Association for the Mutual Aid of Families of Prisoners and Convicts (MATUHAYDER), members of the Istanbul Provincial Organisation of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, and his family. 

 

Greeted with applause, cheers and chants of "Bijî berxwedana zîndanan (Long live the resistance of the prisoners)”, Cirik said: "Even though I have been released from prison, there are still thousands of prisoners inside. Most importantly, we are not free as long as our leader is held in Imrali Prison. Because our leader is our honour, he is everything to us. I want to address the young people here: organise yourselves and unite. Only with strong organisation can we get our leader out of prison."