Tahir Canan, Turkey's Longest Serving Inmate, Freed

Tahir Canan, Turkey's longest serving inmate, has been released this morning after the implementation of new judicial reforms - publicly known as 4th judicial package.

"I am enjoying the beauty of freedom now. I am extremely happy to be together with my family again," Canan told bianet.

He added that he would attend May 1 celebrations tomorrow in Gebze with his family and he was so grateful to everyone who contributed to his release.

Canan has been released after the implementation of "Bill on the revision of several laws in the context of human rights and freedom of expression", a reform that was ratified by President Gül yesterday.

In 1978 Canan was arrested for "politically-motived murder", ordered to serve 36 years of prison. In 1991 he benefitted from a parole.

In  1993 he was arrested for being a TDKP organization member and ordered to serve 12.5 years of prison.

Canan lost his parole after a a court ordered to serve the remaining part of his previous 36 years of prison sentence.

In 2005 Canan remained in prison even though his second prison sentence was due.

In sum, Canan remained in prison between 1978-1991 and 1993-2013, serving a total of 33 years of prison in the past 35 years. (EKN/BM)