According to Kurdistan Press, Ömer Akyol, a member of the PKK, was arrested on August 21, 1996 in the city of Abakh, Van province, and was initially held in Diluk Prison (Gaziantep).

He was then transferred to Elih Prison (Batman) and after 16 years in Diluk and Elih prisons, he was transferred to Izmir Prison No. 3. Ömer was finally released from prison after serving 30 years.

Akyol's brother and representatives of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and the Association for Solidarity and Solidarity with the Families of Prisoners and Convicts in the Aegean Region (EGE-TUHAYDER) welcomed him by presenting flowers in front of the prison.

After his release, Akyol said: “Today, exactly 30 years of my imprisonment have ended. Freedom after 30 years makes me both happy and sad. I am happy because I am now out and I can taste freedom to some extent; but I am sad because my friends are still in prison.”

Referring to the peace and democratic society process, he added: “We follow this process that Ocalan has started with interest and we believe that it will succeed. Of course, there are dangers on its path and some people may want to disrupt it; but we believe in Ocalan.”

Akyol continued: “Despite the difficult conditions of isolation in Imrali, he has brought us to this point and we will build a democratic country on his path. Freedom will belong to the Kurds and Kurdistan.”