Cengiz Eker stayed in prison for 31 years. He was held in Şakran No. 3 High Security Prison in Izmir, and was on the list of seriously ill prisoners of the Human Rights Association (IHD). Eker was released on Monday, and was welcomed in front of the prison by his family, the executives of the Aegean Prisoners and Convicts Families Assistance and Solidarity Association (EGE TUHAYDER) and members of the DEM Party.

Eker said that he stood by the promise and struggle he gave since his arrest and added: "The prisoners in jail are in good condition, their morale is high. I hope all our friends will be released as soon as possible."

After his release, Eker headed to his hometown, Îdir.

Eker was taken into custody under torture during a house raid by the Turkish army in the village of Berî in the center of Îdir in 1993. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Erzurum State Security Court (DGM) on charges of "disrupting state unity and integrity."

He completed his sentence on 22 September 2023, but his release was postponed twice for 6 months after the Prison Administration and Monitoring Board decided that he was not showing "good behavior." Eker, who had three blocked arteries and heart failure, had three angiograms and three stents. In addition, he underwent prostate surgery while in prison.