First Protest of 2019 by Saturday Mothers/People

Click to read the article in Turkish

Saturday Mothers/People, whose weekly sit-in protests at Galatasaray Square in Beyoğlu have been prevented since the 700th week, met at the square on January 1. Laying carnations on the square, which is closed by police barriers, Saturday Mothers/People denounced the ban one more time.

The protest was also attended by Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Oya Ersoy.

The 700th sit-in protest of Saturday Mothers/People to be held at the square on August 25, 2018 was banned by the order of Ministry of Interior. Since then, the weekly statements for the press have been held in front of Human Rights Association's (İHD) İstanbul Branch office in Beyoğlu.

Coming to the square in company with the folk song "Beni Bul Anne" (Find me mother) sang by Ceylan Ertem and played from the loudspeakers of CHP Beyoğlu District office, Saturday Mothers/People stated that they gave up neither looking for their losses nor gathering at Galatasaray Square.

Hanife Yıldız: We will make them open the square

Hanife Yıldız, the mother of Murat Yıldız, who disappeared in custody, expressed the aim of their protest as follows:

"We were here in order to say that we have not given up. We will never give up. Sooner or later, we will make them open that square."

İkbal Eren: This square is conscience of this country

İkbal Eren, the sister of Hayrettin Eren, who also disappeared in custody, also stated that they will not give up on Galatasaray Square:

"This square is where we meet our losses. This square is the conscience of this country. We are here to say that we will not give up on this square."

Police officers removed the carnations laid on the square with their feet. (HK/SD)