80-year-old Makbule Özer and her 79-year-old husband Hadi Özer were detained with their children in the police raid on their house on 24 July 2018 in Edremit, in the province of Van.

As a result of the investigation carried out against the Özer couple, a lawsuit was filed. The 2 years and 6 months’ prison sentence given to the Özer couple by the local court was upheld by the higher courts. The Özers were first taken into custody in Edremit, in the province of Van, and were then sent to prison on 9 May.

The old couple cannot meet their needs in prison

The couple’s daughter, Naime Özer, said that her parents were unable to meet their own needs in prison due to their advanced age and bad health condition. She said that her mother had congenital hip dislocation and had difficulty walking, and added that she is struggling with many diseases in prison.

Naime Özer said that her mother had been treated for osteoporosis, cholesterol and diabetes in the past, and added that “because of the chronic diseases she has, she needs to pay attention to her diet. After she went to prison, she developed blood pressure and heart disease. My mom and dad's hands started to tremble. My father has eye disease and asthma.”

Stating that her mother's arm was broken as a result of her fainting in prison, and her head was fractured as a result of the impact, Özer said: "My mother was treated at the Van Regional Training and Research Hospital for one night after she passed out in prison. She was put on serum twice a day in the infirmary. My mother and father, who are now having difficulties in meeting their own needs even at home, have been in detention for 70 days and have been having great difficulty to live in prison conditions. I demand the release of my parents.”