Mehmet İldem (65), a 30-year prisoner held in Balıkesir Burhaniye T Type Closed Prison, was released. Detained in Adana in 1993, İldem was sentenced to life imprisonment by the State Security Court (DGM) for "disrupting the unity and integrity of the country".

İldem was welcomed in front of the prison by his family, Balıkesir provincial executives of Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and members of the Aegean Association for Assistance and Solidarity with Families of Prisoners and Convicts (EGE TUHAY-DER).

Speaking after his release, İldem said that he was sad to leave his friends behind. Noting that he had been imprisoned for 30 years unjustly and unlawfully, İldem said, "Our cause is the cause of freedom. Freedom is not easy. Freedom is possible through struggle." Drawing attention to the ongoing hunger strike actions in prisons, İldem said, "Our struggle will continue until the demands are accepted. It is necessary to increase the struggle inside and outside of prisons".

İldem, who is one of the seriously ill prisoners in Turkey, said: "There are thousands of seriously ill prisoners behind bars. I will continue the struggle outside despite my illnesses. I was imprisoned for 30 years for the cause of freedom. I will work for freedom for another 30 years. I will continue my struggle until my last breath."

Members of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and PAJK (Party of Free Women in Kurdistan) imprisoned in Turkey went on hunger strike on 27 November in support of the international campaign "Freedom for Öcalan, A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question". According to the prisoners' representative Deniz Kaya, the hunger strike is to be carried out in alternating groups from 27 November to 15 February, the anniversary of the international conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Sick and elderly prisoners as well as prisoners with less than two years remaining on their sentence will not be included in the action.