JINHA

ISTANBUL – In the 521st week of their quest for justice, the Saturday Mothers have called for witnesses to give testimony in the case of Hasan Ocak, under threat of passing Turkey's statute of limitations.

The Dayikên Şemiyê (Saturday Mothers) and the Human Rights Association (IHD) held their 521^st weekly sit-in act at Galatasaray Square, in the central Taksim area of Istanbul. The mothers carried the photographs of those who they have lost and red carnations to remember the lost. Gülsüm Elvan, mother of Berkin Elvan, the child killed by a police gas canister during the course of the Gezi resistance who lost his life after a long struggle in a coma, was also in attendance.

The sit-in started with the playing of the folk song "Ruhi Su," the favorite song of Hasan Ocak, who was arrested after an action on April 4, 1995 and lost in police custody.

Hasan's younger sister, Maside Ocak, said it was always hard to tell the story; even after 20 years, nothing was erased from her memory. She related that a police had said "I wrote your older brother's report," but that the witnesses had still not been called for testimony and the case was at risk of exceeding the statute of limitations.

Ali Ocak, Hasan's younger brother, said they would resume the struggle with the fire of Newroz and dream of Kawa. He read a letter of someone who had witnessed the torture to which Hasan had been subjected.

Ümit Tekaydişli, speaking on behalf of the loved ones of those lost, also spoke. "We have experienced serious human rights violation not only in Kurdish lands, but also in Istanbul. Extra-judicial executions, torture, killings all became the reality of Istanbul.

"We want the witnesses of term to give testimony in Hasan Ocak's case, which is under threat of exceeding the statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is unacceptable in crimes against humanity." 

(nt)