“Our seek for truth and justice is on trial today,” said Saturday Mothers and rights defenders in front of Çağlayan Courthouse.

Istanbul- Saturday Mothers/People have gathered at Istanbul's Galatasaray Square to demand the whereabouts of their loved ones. 46 Saturday Mothers/People were detained in 2018 during the 700th weekly vigil of them. The first hearing of the trial has begun today.

Before the hearing, the Saturday Mothers and the members of the Human Rights Association (IHD) issued a press statement in front of the courthouse.

“Our place is not here but Galatasaray”

Hanife Yıldız, mother of Murat Yıldız being disappeared for 26 years, made a speech. “Our place is not here but Galatasaray Square,” Hanife Yıldız said, “We know what we demand. Our peaceful protest was attacked and we were forcibly taken out of the square. Today, we are protesting here instead of protesting at our square. I hope we will be at Galatasaray Square soon. Galatasaray Square is a place for us to meet our friends and to demand the whereabouts of our loved ones who disappeared. We don’t know where their graves are so we consider the square as their graves. Today, our friends are on trial. It is a funny trial. We are the plaintiffs. We cannot stand trial. Today, our seek for truth and justice is on trial.”

46 people have been charged with “refusal to disperse despite the warning and use of force” under Article 32/1 of Turkey’s Law on Meetings and Demonstrations. The first hearing of the trial has begun.