Ramazan Ildem was arrested in Kızıltepe (Qoser), in the province of Mardin (Merdîn) in July 1993, when he was 22 years old. He was given a life sentence by the Diyarbakır State Security Court (DGM), for "Destroying the unity and integrity of the State".

Ildem spent time in eight different prisons before being eventually transferred to Bafra T-Type Closed Prison. He was supposed to be released on 4 July, but the Prison Administration and Monitoring Board (IGK) decided against it, saying that he did not "show remorse". Ildem's release was delayed for another 3 months.

Ildem's mother, Halime, said: "We were waiting to bring him home after 30 years in prison. We made our preparations, we were going to meet him. He phoned and said that he had been sentenced to another 3 months."

Ildem's mother said: "An injustice is being done. The enemy never gives up. My only request is to leave my son to take care of his cause, his work, and his language. I believe that he and his friends are walking on an honorable path. We are looking for this too. There is nothing better than this. Is he going to drop everything and step aside to get out of prison? No such thing is going to happen."