The long lasting peaceful protest known as Saturday Mothers started their journey on May 1995 and have been holding sits-in at Galatasaray, Istanbul, Turkey to demand an end to the silence about enforced disappearances in police custody from the 1980s and ‘90s.
Next weekend this protest will mark the 700th sit-in and campaigners from Britain will be gathering in central London to show harmony. London’s vigil will begin at 12 noon at Trafalgar Square on Saturday 25 2018.
What started out with 30 members exceeds hundreds of supporters in carrying the photographs of peoples who disappeared in detention. Out of thousands; only around 450 cases have been resolved.
The groups demand includes the states unveiling the fate of those who were displaced, return of the victims’ bodies to their families, trial of those involved and lifting of the statute of restraints so that all of the guilty can be conveyed to justice.
Asli Gul the chairwoman of Day-Mer Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre said,
“It is not only the duty of the relatives but the duty of all people to stand up against the mafia-like mentality of the state, which arrests and kills anyone who does not think the same way as it does.
“This is why we will be gathering in London and in cities all over Europe to mark the 700 weeks of this resistance.
“We hope to see sensitivity from all human rights organizations, political parties, community organizations, campaign groups, individuals and, especially, the trade unions in Britain to show support for this struggle by putting pressure on the Turkish state.”
The European Court of Human Rights has judged many times that Turkey has abused the rights to freedom and security and often the right to life of the victims.
> Alma Siddiqua
Turkey: Saturday Mothers Marks 700th Protest Sitting
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