Saturday Mothers have been holding sit-ins in Taksim’s Galatasaray Square every Saturday for the state to declare the faith of their relatives disappeared in custody and for the perpetrators to be put on trial. The justice watch has today entered its 600th week.

HDP and CHP deputies, artists, representatives of political parties, trade unions and democratic mass organisations have accompanied the Saturday Mothers who held their 600th weekly sit-in in Istanbul's Galatasary Square today.

The message given at today's sit-in was “We won't stop pursuing the murderers" and "It is not us but those who disappear people in custody, burn the cities to the ground with tanks and artilleries and burn people alive in basements that should be afraid". A huge banner hanged in the area read "Saturday Mothers in the same place for 600 weeks" and photographs of the victims of unidentified murders were covered with red carnations.

'ERDOĞAN DID NOT KEEP HIS PROMISE'

80 years old Elmas Eren, mother of Hayrettin Eren, who was disappeared in custody after the September 12 coup of 1980, was the first to speak today. Eren recalled that then Prime Minister and today President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has not kept the promise he made to Saturday Mothers in 2011 to shed light on "unidentified murders" and find the bones of their children.

"My eyes have gone dry. What is the crime of our children? Why haven't they been found so far? Do you know what it means for a mother to wait for her child for 36 years?", Eren asked, and pledged to keep her struggle going until her last breath.

'MOST OF THE SATURDAY MOTHERS HAVE DIED'

Emine Ocak, mother of Hasan Ocak, one of the symbols of those disappeared in custody, spoke later. Ocak recalled that she has been asking to learn the perpetrators of her son's murder at Galatasaray Square for 21 years, adding: "Most of my friends that have sought justice with me since the first sit-in have all died today. We have been keeping vigil for justice for 21 years to make sure that youths and children do not die again. It is enough. End this cruelty."

'THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO JUSTICE NOR MERCY'

Hanife Yıldız, mother of another victim Murat Yıldız, thanked all those who have not left them alone as they awaited to learn about the fate of their children. "We will be here for another 600 weeks as long as this injustice continues. It is understood that this government has no justice nor mercy. We will not go silent and we will continue pursuing the perpetrators as we keep waiting for our children."

'THEY SHOULD BE AFRAID, NOT US'

Besna Tosun, daughter of Fehmi Tosun who is among the symbols of victims, said the followings: "This struggle was started by our mothers and fathers. Our duty was to take over this 21-year-old struggle and we are growing the third generation here today. It is an honour for us to take over and continue this dignified struggle. All those who remain silent in the face of this scene is an accomplice."

Tosun continued: "We have no right to fear or go silent. It is not us but those who disappear people in custody, burn the cities to the ground with tanks and artilleries, burn people alive in basements, leave Taybet Mother on the street for two weeks and kill yet unborn babies that should be afraid."

'WE ARE INHERITORS OF GRIEF AND ANGER'

Another victim Abdulkerim Yurtsever’s granddaughter Berivan Yurtsever, who spoke on behalf of the third generation seeking justice, told the followings: "We are inheritors of the grief and anger that has been handed down from generation to generation. There is no justice in this country. We are here for justice and peace. We are here because we demand an honorable life with our diversities. We will continue our struggle until the bones of our grandfathers, grandmothers are found, until they have a grave and until the perpetrators are brought to account."

'TURKEY, WHERE JUSTICE CANNOT BE REACHED'

After the speeches, Serpil Taşkaya, daughter of victim Hüseyin Taşkaya, read the statement marking the 600th week of Saturday Mothers' search for justice.

Taşkaya pointed out that they raise their voice in order for the state to face the crime of disappearance in custody and ensure peace and justice. Stressing that the injustice in Turkey is growing further because the judiciary is under the control of not people but the government, adding: "In the 14th year of the ruling of a party that is named after 'justice', Turkey continues to be a country where justice cannot be reached."

DEMANDS

Taşkaya listed the demands of Saturday Mothers as follows:

- exposure and announcement of the fate of those disappeared in custody

- ending of the impunity granted to state officials responsible for disappearances in custody

- recognition of the crime of disappearance in custody as a crime against humanity

- establishment of an independent commission for victims of disappearances in custody

- accession to the 'International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance'.

The sit-in ended with the listening of the sound recording sent by Plaza de Mayo Mothers from Argentine for solidarity with Saturday Mothers.