Mothers of some Turkish military college students who were sentenced to life imprisonment after the failed coup attempt of 15 July 2016, and mother of Mustafa Yılmaz, who was abducted and disappeared 7 months ago, were set to hold a demonstration in Ankara today with the participation of other mothers from outside the city.

Police blockaded the area as mothers gathered at the Sakarya Avenue, one of the busiest streets in central Ankara.

Nevin Yılmaz, mother of Mustafa Yılmaz who was kidnapped 7 months ago while on his way to work in Ankara, protested the police crackdown.

Holding a photograph of her son, mother Yılmaz asked; “Where is my son, where is my Mustafa?”. The mother was then reduced to silence and detained by the police.

Ferhat Göçer’s mother Hamide Göçer was similarly battered, dragged on the ground and taken into custody as she voiced her reaction “Our children were unlawfully sentenced. They arrested our children claiming them to be involved in the coup attempt. My son is not a coup plotter.”

Police also detained a passerby who engaged in provocative reaction against the detained families, and denied journalists access to the area to follow the protest.

14 people have been taken into custody during the crackdown by the police.