Hanım Onur, former deputy mayor of Cizre, who had been arrested in the so-called Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) operation 16 months ago, was released on Monday after her lawyer presented a letter of application to Diyarbakır 7th High Criminal Court demanding her release.

Onur's lawyer Canan Atabay defended that Onur's children, five years-old leukaemia patient Solin and seven years-old Mithat who has epilepsy, needed their mother beside them.

Onur was arrested in September 2011 in the scope of an investigation into the City Council of Cizre. She was accused of being a member of the KCK organization.

Speaking after her release, Onur said that Solin's sickness has once again been brought to the agenda recently after Fatma Şahin, Minister for Family and Social Policies, said they would take steps to ensure treatment for leukaemia patient Solin. “Despite the fact that Solin's sickness had been written about on media and social media earlier, Minister Şahin's step has had a remarkable effect on the process. I have learnt that the Minister also provided financial support for my children. I thank her for this but all I wanted for my children was moral support, not material”, said Onur.

Onur told that she had a feeling of failure while in prison for not being able to do anything for her children. “In prison, you stand bound hand and foot as you cannot leave those four walls while wanting to do something for your sick children. This feeling causes a great psychological and spiritual disturbance inside you. I lost 26 pounds in prison due to the lack of means to do something for my children”.

Onur remarked that Solin has recently developed pneumonia and got blister in her lungs, and added; “I extend my thanks to everyone who have made a move for Solin and given voice to her situation. The peoples of Turkey displayed a great devotion and owned Solin to not to allow her die. I believe those who have given a hand to Solin will look after peace on these lands as well”.