Saturday Mothers, who have been holding a sit-in protest in Galatasaray Square since 1995 to ask about the fate of their relatives who disappeared in custody and to demand the prosecution of the perpetrators, were in the square this week as well.
On the 1125th week, the relatives of the missing addressed the public again from the barricades surrounding Galatasaray Square.
Saturday Mothers, carrying carnations and photos of their missing people, asked about the fate of Fehmi Tosun, who was kidnapped from his home on October 19, 1995 and disappeared.
Speaking at the protest, missing İkbal, brother of Hayrettin Eren, who disappeared in custody, stated that there were witnesses and evidence in the Fehmi Tosun file.
He said that although all national and international legal remedies were taken, the truth was not revealed and those responsible were not prosecuted.
İkbal Eren explained that Fehmi Tosun, 35 years old and a father of five children, had breakfast at his home in Avcılar with his close friend Hüseyin Aydemir on the morning of October 19, 1995. Stating that in the evening of the same day, three men with guns, radios and plain clothes brought Tosun in front of his house in a white Renault vehicle, Eren said that the incident took place in front of the eyes of his family and the people of the neighborhood.
According to Eren, when Fehmi Tosun saw his wife and children, he said, "They will kill me!" he shouted. When his family ran towards him, Tosun was forced into the vehicle and taken away.
Stating that Ms. Tosun immediately went to Avcılar Police Station and reported that her husband had been kidnapped, gave the license plate of the vehicle to the police and requested intervention, İkbal Eren said that the police did not take any action after checking the license plate and making phone calls, saying "There is nothing we can do".
Stating that Hanım Tosun and the Human Rights Association (İHD) used all legal means to shed light on the incident, Eren stated that despite this, it was denied that Fehmi Tosun was taken into custody. Eren noted that there was no news from Tosun and Hüseyin Aydemir, with whom he left home that morning.
İkbal Eren said that in the case concluded in 2003, the Turkish government admitted that the investigation was insufficient and that Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which guarantees the right to life, was violated.
Eren also reminded that a commitment was made to make the necessary legal regulations to prevent similar incidents.
However, Eren stated that this acceptance did not result in an effective investigation and the prosecution of those responsible, and that the necessary steps were not taken to reveal the fate of Fehmi Tosun and identify those responsible.
Stating that the file was closed with a decision of non-prosecution on the grounds of statute of limitations, Eren said that the family's objections to the decision were rejected and the individual application to the Constitutional Court (AYM) was inconclusive.
Eren stated that although 31 years have passed, it has not been revealed how Fehmi Tosun was lost, what happened to him, and who those responsible are, and emphasized that the government's acceptance of the violation and payment of compensation is not enough to ensure justice.
Eren stated that the requirement of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is not only to detect violations or pay compensation, and that the state has the obligation to conduct effective investigations in cases where the right to life is violated, to reveal the truth and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Criticizing the government for not fulfilling its obligation to investigate despite admitting the violation, Eren said that the mentality of "I will pay the compensation, I will continue the violation" continues.
In the 1125th week of the action, İkbal Eren called on the government to fulfill the requirements of the ECHR decisions and implement international human rights obligations.
Eren, who wanted Fehmi Tosun's fate to be disclosed, stated that all steps required by law should be taken to identify and prosecute those responsible, without resorting to the statute of limitations.
Fehmi Tosun's wife, Hanım Tosun, who spoke at the protest, said that they have been trying to make their voices heard in Galatasaray Square for years, demanding justice. Addressing the state, Ms. Tosun stated that the discourses of justice, judiciary and law have no meaning unless the demands of the relatives of the disappeared are met.
Criticizing the barriers established in Galatasaray Square, Hanım Tosun stated that they did not insult anyone in their actions, they only wanted the facts to be revealed and the fate of the missing to be explained.
Ms. Tosun said:
"We have been calling out in these squares for years. I am calling out to the state: Do not talk about justice, judiciary, law. If you really talk about justice, look at Galatasaray. Why did you set up these barriers here? Why are we in front of the barriers? We are talking about justice and law here. We do not insult anyone here. We speak the truth. We want our lost people. What happened to them, where did you bury them?"
Stating that they are talking about thousands of missing people and that there are files about the missing people in the state archives and the Parliament, Ms. Tosun emphasized that the discourses of peace and justice will gain meaning when the truth is revealed.
"If you are talking about peace and justice, you will first talk about the Saturday Mothers. You have to show us a tombstone as soon as possible. You have to open your archives. Then talk about justice and peace," said Hanım Tosun, demanding that those responsible for the disappearances be tried.
Ms. Tosun said, "We will continue to raise our voices in the squares until there is one missing person and the perpetrators are brought to justice."
The action ended with the carnations being left in Galatasaray Square.
