Artists Call For Saturday Mothers/People Week 500

37 individuals including artists and authors made a public appeal to meet at down Istanbul on October 25 for the 500 week of Saturday Mothers/People of Turkey meeting. 

A press conference has been organized in Turkey’s Human Rights Association (IHD) in Istanbul, a meeting attended by artists including Suavi, Pınar Aydınlar, Akın Birdal and Ferhat Tunç. 

The press statement was read by Adile Yadırgı. 

“This search is for all of us”

Akın Birdal mentioned about the their campaign to look for the disappeared people and Saturday sit-ins after the foundation of Human Rights Association (IHD) and the disappearance of Hasan Ocak in 1995. 

“IHD was founded in 1986 by 98 individuals including intellectuals, artists, authors and parents who were meeting up outside prison gates following the 1980 Military Coup. 

“Maybe they have removed the scaffolds but the right to life of dissidents have been removed,” he said. 

Birdal added furthermore that the search they started in 1995 arrived to Week 500.  

“They are searching for justice for 500 weeks, they are searching for the lost memory of the society. They are searching for conscience for 500 weeks. 

“This is 500 weeks of shame in the family of humanity. As much as the resistance of Saturday Mother is our honor, it is our shame that we couldn’t find their beloved ones. 

“While the mothers are looking for their beloved ones, they are also looking for the lost democracy, law, human rights and future. 

“This search is for all of us. We will all be there on the Week 500. I hope we can be visible to those who haven’t seen us before.” (BK/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish and view the list of petition-signers.