The “Saturday Mothers” protested online in the 940th week, demanding the fate of their disappearances and the prosecution of the perpetrators.
The mothers, families, and friends of those made to disappear by the Turkish regime continue their protests despite the brutal attacks from the Turkish police and innumerable arrests and beatings. Most of the disappeared were Kurdish, supporting human rights crimes inflicted on Kurdish citizens.

This week’s statement asked about the fate of Nezir Acar, who was never heard from again after being detained on April 8, 1992, in the Dargeçit district of Mardin, where he had gone to negotiate for the purchase of domestic farm animals.

Hatice Acar, the nephew of Nezir Acar, who spoke said, “According to the law recognized by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), which is binding on all judicial authorities in Turkey, the termination of the investigations and trials for the crime of enforced disappearance solely on the grounds of statute of limitations is considered a violation of the right to life. However, when it comes to enforced disappearances in Turkey, the statute of limitations becomes a judicial strategy that turns into a secret amnesty. Enforced disappearance cases are closed without effective investigation or prosecution. Overcoming such practices that impede justice can only be possible through a democratic, just, and egalitarian structural transformation. In our 940th week, we are addressing the public with the Nezir Acar file, which was closed on the grounds of ‘time,’ the statute of limitations.”

We will not give up on Galatasaray!

For years, the “Saturday Mothers” peacefully and silently sat at the steps of the Galatasaray High School, only holding the pictures of their loved ones. However, the Turkish regime’s police attacked them brutally, beating and dragging the older women on the streets before detaining them. For years the mothers are not allowed to demonstrate publicly even though their gatherings have been peaceful, silent, and calm. Turkish state considers exposing its crimes as a threat to its well-being.

Stating that they once again are calling out the state authorities on the 31st anniversary of his disappearance in custody, Acar said, “Fulfill your obligation to explain the fate of Nezir Acar and punish the perpetrators. No matter how many years pass, we will not give up on Nezir Acar, our demands of justice for all our losses, or that the state has to act within the norms of universal law. We will not give up the Galatasaray location and steps, our meeting place to remind our losses, that have been forbidden to us for 241 weeks.”

MB Sendika.Org News