News Center- The members of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Saturday Mothers, politicians, and human rights defenders visited the graves of Rıdvan Karakoç and Hasan Ocak, were forcibly disappeared, at the Gazi Cemetery to mark the International Week of Struggle against Forced Disappearances, 17-31 May. The commemoration ceremony was held at the cemetery with the participation of Pervin Buldan, Co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and MP of the Green Left Party, and Green Left Party MP Cengiz Çiçek.

 ‘The state has to ensure justice’

 Gülseren Yoleri, head of the IHD Istanbul branch, made a speech at the commemoration. Recalling that the Saturday Mothers have been struggling for 28 years to find their loved ones, Gülseren Yoleri highlighted that the human rights defenders continue to seek justice.

“The state still protects the perpetrators; it tries to cover up this incident. However, the relatives of the disappeared are determined not to forget their loved ones and they say we will keep demanding justice. Their voices should be heard by everyone in society. The state is responsible for preventing the crimes committed against humanity. The state has to ensure justice,” she said in her speech.

 ‘We will keep searching for the truth’

 Maside Ocak, sister of Hasan Ocak, who was forcibly disappeared in custody, also made a speech. “We will keep searching for the truth. We still have many things to say. As the relatives of the disappeared, we still have no grave to visit, we are ignored. But we will keep searching for our loved ones and the truth until justice is delivered.”

 ‘The mentality is the same in 2023’

In her speech, Pervn Buldan said, “If there are so many unsolved murders, disappearances and extrajudicial executions in Turkey, it is the responsibility of those who govern this country and those who take decisions. The perpetrators of the unsolved murders and disappearances have gone unpunished. Even if we are in 2023, we see that the mentality is the same. The alliance formed by this government does not allow the Saturday Mothers to hold their sit-in in front of the Galatasaray High School and detain them. Standing firm against this fascism and growing this struggle is our duty. We have one last chance to choose between light and dark. We will choose between fascism and democracy on May 28 (presidential election in Turkey).”