Nineteen years ago, on 28 May 1995, a group of mostly women from different age groups met in Galatasaray Square, in the central Taksim area of Istanbul and sat down in front of the Galatasaray School. They were holding pictures of mostly men, from different age groups. On the picture the name of the man and a word which was to become known also to foreigners, kayip, disappeared. The Saturday Mothers, as they then called themselves because of their meeting in Galatasaray (and later in many other squares) square every Saturday, started their weekly vigil 19 years ago. They have been harassed, attacked, injured, beaten, arrested. And yet they are in the squares every Saturday to claim justice for their disappeared relatives.

Today has witnessed the 500th week of the “Find the disappeared, try the perpetrators” protest in search of justice and truth. The vigil which was initiated by 10 people 19 years ago was joined every week and year by more and more people sharing the same destiny with them, asking to learn about the aftermath of their beloved ones disappeared in North Kurdistan and Turkey in 90s.

All those disappeared had a dream, a future and a hope for life. All did struggle for a more beautiful life. Some of them were children yet, some others youths and some elders. The perpetrator of all of them was, however, the same. All of a sudden were they taken from their houses and streets to the death pit, to the accompaniment of radio announcements breaking the silence of the night. All of a sudden were they broken away from their desire for freedom, leaving behind a single photograph, a mother, a father, a child and a sibling with a carnation in the hand and tears in the eyes...

Thousands started to gather at the Galatasaray Square as of early morning today, asking to know about the aftermath of thousands of people from and about whom no news has been received since their disappearance. Deputies, politicians, artists, unionists, lawyers, students and non-governmental organizations joined the Saturday Mothers on the 500th week of their vigil for justice.

Some of the messages highlighted at this week's protest are as follows;

Hanım Tosun, wife of Fehmi Tosun who disappeared in custody after being detained by plain-clothes policemen in front of his house in Avcılar on 19 October 1995; "We have been in search of our relatives disappeared in custody for 500 weeks now. I did not understand how these 500 weeks have gone by. Those who were children 20 years ago have grown up, some of the parents asking the aftermath of their children together with us have died, but the state has taken no steps at all, turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to our demands. However, no matter how much blind and deaf they shall be, they should never forget that we are not going to leave them in peace even if a thousand years pass by."

İrfan Bilgin, brother of Kenan Bilgin whose whereabouts also remains unknown since his detention by anti-terror police from his house in Ankara on 12 September 1994; "It was 20 years ago when we came together at this square, demanding the disclosure of the aftermath of those disappeared in custody. 20 years later, we are here again, voicing the same demand. We know that they are not going to give our relatives back to us but we want to reach their bones at least. It is not about the officers that took my brother into custody because I know that the perpetrator is the state. The only thing I ask from those police officers is to reach us and to explain us what happened, if they bear a small piece of inner conscience to do this, I am ready to forgive them."

Emine Ocak, mother of Hasan Ocak who was tortured to death after being detained on 21 March 1995; "My son was detained and disappeared. There is no police station nor prosecutor left I didn't ask about him, no door left I didn't knock at. They all told lies and denied it. On 15 May 1995, I found him in the cemetery of the nameless in Beykoz. They had killed him."

Mikail Kırbayır, brother of Cemil Kırbayır who also disappeared in custody after the declaration of the 12 September military coup in 1980; "We have been sitting here for 500 weeks, asking to know about the aftermath of our children, brothers, fathers and grandchildren who all were targeted for struggling for the attainment of freedom and democracy in these lands, and embraced death in order to realize their ideas. We are giving a struggle for 500 weeks in order for the punishment of their known perpetrators. This is because those ruling this country are deaf and dumb and still bear the mindset of 12 September coup. I looked for my brother for 30 years. They always told me a lie. An indictment is yet to be put forward about the murder of my brother despite the exposure of his disappearance in custody 3 years ago. The perpetrators who are already known are still being protected and justified."

Muzaffer Yedigöl, brother of Nurettin Yedigöl, another victim of disappearances; "I want the bones of my brother. I am here because I want my mother to reach his son's bones at least so she can lay in peace when she dies. My father died before being able to do this, that's why he doesn't lay in peace in his grave."

Gülbahar Alpsoy, daughter of disappeared Kasım Alpsoy: "While we are seeking our disappeared relatives for 500 weeks, mothers in Kobanê are now crying for their children and for their lands occupied by gangs. The state which hasn't heard us so far doesn't hear them either. It is only the women here and those in Kobanê that will bring justice to this country."

Serhat Ertak, son of disappeared mining worker Mehmet Ertak, held the photo of his father high, and asked all others to do the same, saying; "There is only one photograph here, the name of which is disappeared. This is the bloody face of justice. The state should firstly clean this bloody face of its."

Families all stated, once again, that they are not going to abandon their search for justice until all the disappeared are delivered to their families and the perpetrators are brought to account."