Sit in in Taksim for disappeared people of Turkey
Sit in in Taksim for disappeared people of Turkey
Relatives of the disappeared people of Turkey held a demonstration in Istanbul central Taksim square. The event was organized in the framework of the International Struggle Week Against Disappearances. Reading a statement at the event, Hasan Ocak’s sister Maside Ocak said; “They, the disappeared, will appear out of nowhere one day. We will therefore always keep our doors open.”
The Turkey section of the International Committee Against Disappearances (ICAD) has promoted an event in Taksim as part of the International Struggle Week Against Disappearances which will take place between 17-31 May.
The relatives of the disappeared people together with human rights activists called on all people to be sensitive. They staged a sit in at Taksim Square holding photos of their disappeared relatives, in front of banner saying “Stop the Disappearance” in Kurdish, Turkish and English. The press statement of the action, where demonstrators chanted slogans “Do not forget the disappearances under detention” , was read by Maside Ocak, sister of Hasan Ocak who is the symbol name of the fight against disappearances under detention.
Underlining that disappearance under detention is a crime against humanity, Maside Ocak said that the struggle of Saturday Mothers made the Turkish government take a step back in the policy of disappearing people under detention at late 90’s, but couldn’t end this policy. Ocak reminded that Turkey hasn’t signed the United Nations (UN) convention against forcibly disappearance of persons, and said the followings; “The pain, waiting and fight do not have a homeland or boundaries. Although we sing our folk songs in our mother tongue, meeting is a matter of great backbone. They, the disappeared, will appear out of nowhere one day. We will therefore always keep our doors open. We will hold their hands.”
STRUGGLE WEEK
ICAD was established to ensure the continuity of the 1st International Congress on Disappearance under Detention which took place in Istanbul on 17-19 May 1996. During the congress, 17-31 May was declared as the International Struggle Week Against Disappearances.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
The Turkey section of the International Committee Against Disappearances (ICAD) has promoted an event in Taksim as part of the International Struggle Week Against Disappearances which will take place between 17-31 May.
The relatives of the disappeared people together with human rights activists called on all people to be sensitive. They staged a sit in at Taksim Square holding photos of their disappeared relatives, in front of banner saying “Stop the Disappearance” in Kurdish, Turkish and English. The press statement of the action, where demonstrators chanted slogans “Do not forget the disappearances under detention” , was read by Maside Ocak, sister of Hasan Ocak who is the symbol name of the fight against disappearances under detention.
Underlining that disappearance under detention is a crime against humanity, Maside Ocak said that the struggle of Saturday Mothers made the Turkish government take a step back in the policy of disappearing people under detention at late 90’s, but couldn’t end this policy. Ocak reminded that Turkey hasn’t signed the United Nations (UN) convention against forcibly disappearance of persons, and said the followings; “The pain, waiting and fight do not have a homeland or boundaries. Although we sing our folk songs in our mother tongue, meeting is a matter of great backbone. They, the disappeared, will appear out of nowhere one day. We will therefore always keep our doors open. We will hold their hands.”
STRUGGLE WEEK
ICAD was established to ensure the continuity of the 1st International Congress on Disappearance under Detention which took place in Istanbul on 17-19 May 1996. During the congress, 17-31 May was declared as the International Struggle Week Against Disappearances.
Translation: Berna Ozgencil
