WEEK 414: Saturday Mothers Commemorate Cüneyt Aydınlar

With the demand to learn about their beloved ones who disappeared in the 1990s, Saturdays mothers/people assembled at Istanbul's Galatasaray Square for the 414th time on Saturday morning.

 This week, Saturday people commemorated Cüneyt Aydınlar who has been detained by police on February 28, 1994.

 "If we want peace in this country, we need to face our past, our disappeared people. The seeds of this peace must be pure," Recep Aydınlar, brother of Cüneyt Aydınlar, said. 

  "We have lost Berfo Mother [Kırkbayır] lately. People who come here are now second and third generation. The Turkish state should face with its children and take their blessing. Until then, peace may come." 

 According to Human Rights Association of Turkey, Cüneyt Aydınlar's tragedy unfolded as follows: 

 In February 1994 Cüneyt Aydınlar, a student at Istanbul University, has been detained by the police as he was waiting for a bus in Bakirkoy district, Istanbul. 

 Police told Aydınlar's family that their son fled as he was being taken to an undisclosed location for testimony. 

 Eyewitnesses said Aydınlar went through heavy torture under police detention. Some claimed that police was threatening him with death. 

 On 28 February 1994 Cüneyt Aydınlar was seen in Istanbul's Beyoglu district with a broken leg and severe wounds. Handcuffed, Aydınlar was escorted by a couple of dozen police officers. 

The interrogation resulting in Aydınlar's death was performed by chief officer Ahmet Erkut, officers Doğan Özdemir, Mehmet Yalın, Ali Çinal and some unknown officers at Turkey's Anti-Terror Police units. 

Relics discovered 18 years later

Nimet Tanrıkulu from Human Rights Association of Turkey said their Mardin province branch has successfully found the relics of seven people who were brutally murdered 18 years ago in Dargeçit/Boğaz Village. 

"The forensics identified one victim as Mehmet Emin Aslan. We have shed light on another official lie," she said. (NV/BM)