Medeni Özer said that his parents have been in prison for more than three months, and added:: “If this process is extended, their health will worsen. My mother has serious problems with surviving in prison. As a family, our concerns are increasing with every passing day.”

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 in Edremit, Van, on 24 July 2018. As a result of the investigation conducted 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 couple were first taken into custody and then sent to prison on 9 May. The Özer couple have been held hostage in prison for 105 days.

Kurds have no age for the system

The couple’s son, Medeni Özer, said that they do not expect justice, rights and law from those who practice this unlawfulness. Noting that these arrests were the result of hatred and grudge against the Kurds, Özer said: “A Kurdish person has no age in the system. You can be thrown in prison at 7 or at 70. My parents are in need of care. They are not people to be held in prisons. They're both ill."

Our concerns are increasing

Özer said that his mother and father's health will seriously worsen if the prison period is extended, and added: "My mother has no chance to survive. As a family, our concerns are increasing. We have organised many initiatives to protest their detention. We formed a public opinion against the arrest, support came from various circles and political parties, but this blind, deaf system does not want to hear it.”

Stating that the system does not only arrest individuals, but also tries to keep the whole family hostage, Özer added: "The system is trying to keep under the boot the families of prisoners, socially, politically, economically and psychologically."