Disappearances in Detention

On Saturday, the Saturday Mothers/People met in front of the Galatasaray Highschool in central Istanbul for the 223rd time in order to demand justice for those who disappeared in detention.

Lawyer and human rights activist Eren Keskin read a press statement, in which special attention was drawn to the case of Nedim Akyol, aged 13 at the time of his disappearance.

Keskin referred to Prime Minister Erdoğan's speech of 30 June, in which he promised to protect "justice, human rights and freedoms". She called on Erdoğan:

"If you are sincere, listen and act"

"As long as even the bones of children are being hidden, no one can talk about rights and law. As long as those who lost our children are not put on trial, no one can talk about justice. If you are really so sincere about wanting democracy, listen to the families who have been crying blood for years and who have been looking for their missing relatives, and do what is necessary."

On 29 October 1995, 13-year-old Nedim Akyol was taken into custody when his home was raided by gendarmerie officers in the Dargeçit district of Mardin, southeastern Turkey.

Keskin said: "They took him from his bed into custody, to the Dargeçit Gendarmerie Brigade. The family went to the prosecution. The prosecutor said that he would soon be released, but he was never heard of again. The burnt body of 58-year-old Süleyman Seyhan, who had been taken in together with him, was found in a well five months later, but Nedim was never found." (EZÖ/AG)

* Photo by Zeynep Kuray