Şemsettin Tekin (50), held in Oltu T Type Closed Prison in Erzurum, was released after 30 years.

Tekin was arrested in Batman (Êlih) in 1993 and sentenced to life imprisonment for "separatism". He came out of prison at the age of 50. He was 20 when he entered. Tekin was held in Batman, Amed, Bartın, Siirt, Bandırma, Sirnak, Bayburt, Samsun, Panos and Oltu prisons, before being transferred to Erzurum.

'We stand up right'

Tekin was welcomed by his family in front of the prison, and went to Siirt. Speaking there, Tekin said: “I left behind me a long time, 30 years. I was far from our loved ones. But I came out with my head high. It's nice to be reunited with my loved ones, but a part of me is sad because I left dozens of friends behind me in jail."