MLSA - A recent observation report released by the Truth, Justice and Memory Studies Association (Hafıza Merkezi), the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV), and Amnesty International reveals ongoing restrictions against the 'Saturday Mothers/People' group. The report, dated March 9, 2024, focuses on the 989th weekly gathering of this group, known for its peaceful protests seeking justice for their disappeared loved ones.
The 'Saturday Mothers/People' first faced police obstruction on April 8, 2023, during their 941st weekly gathering at Galatasaray Square, following a decision by the Constitutional Court of Turkey regarding Maside Ocak. Since then, with the exception of one Saturday in May 2023, they have continuously attempted to hold peaceful demonstrations at Galatasaray Square. Notably, during their 971st gathering on November 4, 2023, they were encircled by security but were not detained – a first since these interventions began. Since the 972nd gathering on November 11, 2023, they have been permitted to read their press statements at Galatasaray Square, albeit with a restriction limiting the group to no more than ten people.
The report emphasizes that the limitations observed in previous weeks have now become routine. During the 989th gathering, it was noted that the 'Saturday Mothers/People' were under surveillance while delivering their press statement. The significant police presence, including plainclothes officers, between the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) and Galatasaray Square, and the continued restriction of the number of participants to ten, closely monitored throughout the gathering, were highlighted as key indicators of these constraints. The gathering was also extensively recorded, adding to the atmosphere of restriction.
The 'Saturday Mothers/People' gatherings, primarily held to demand answers about the fates of their disappeared relatives and the identification of those responsible, have been a symbol of peaceful protest in Turkey. The interventions and limitations identified in the report negatively impact their efforts to raise public awareness about the fate of their disappeared relatives, as pointed out by the Constitutional Court. Furthermore, these actions are seen as a continuation of efforts to criminalize the activities of the 'Saturday Mothers/People', which the Court had stated should be met with respect. The persistence of these restrictions for over 18 weeks indicates an ongoing pattern of administrative harassment by law enforcement against the group.
