25
October, Istanbul
Haci Mimi
Apartment 53TL
While I updated our website, Charl went out in search
of bacon for lunch. In Istiklal Street he encountered the “Saturday Mother’s”
protesting the disappearance of those in custody. These “human rights advocates
and families of those who are disappeared while in custody of security forces”
have protested at noon every Saturday since 27 May 1995, making today’s “civil
disobedience” their 500th consecutive protest. Their flyer states that “for
claiming their basic rights and freedom, for being Kurdish, Assyrian, Chaldean
and Socialist ... hundreds of people have been taken into custody by security
forces and investigated by torture ...” Each Saturday they hold carnations and
photographs of the disappeared and shout their demands to “end politics of
impunity”, “put offenders on trial”, and “build a free, equal, fair and humane
future”. The flyer ends with these words: “For truth, justice, democracy and
peace, we call on you to support Saturday Mother’s who have been struggling 19
years to get access to the bones of their offspring’s” (sic). We spent a super
evening with Martin and Wendy who had a long layover en route Johannesburg from
Athens.
Saturday Mother's 500th protest
Saturday Mother's 500th protest
Saturday Mother's 500th protest
Saturday Mother's 500th protest
Saturday Mother's 500th protest