As human rights violations increasingly soar in Turkey, the families and human rights associations struggle against the violations.

Saturday Mothers, who have come together for missing persons since 1995, drew attention to Dargeçit Jitem Case which will be tried on November 2. Mothers stated that the case was about to finalize and called for awareness.

Saturday Mothers held actions online due to the Covid-19 outbreak and restrictions. They carried out their 814th action on social media and asked about the fate of people who were forcibly disappeared by the Turkish state since 1980s.

Families demanded justice for Davut Altunkaynak, Seyhan Doğan, Nedim Akyön, Mehmet Emin Aslan, Abdurrahman Olcay, Abdurrahman cosşkun and Süleyman Seyhan who were disappeared in custody in 29 October 1995.

Missing persons’ relatives on their 612th action

On the other hand, Missing persons’ relatives and Human Rights Association (İHD) Diyarbakır Branch held their 612th action on social media and asked about the fate of Gıyasettin Oduncu who had disappeared in custody in Diyarbakır on May 1995.

İHD Diyarbakır branch executive Adnan Örhan said that Oduncu’s fate could not be revealed despite all efforts of his relatives.

Ill prisoners

As relatives of missing persons ask about the fate of missing persons, the Freedom to Ill Prisoners Initiative also held their 321st action. The initiative made a press statement in Human Rights Association’s building located in Ankara and drew attention to the conditions of ill prisoners.

İHD Central Executive Board member Nuray Çevirmen said, “The right to live is under the protection of the state and it is a primary right. However, problems are mounting due to the invisibility of the prisons in the society.”