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Emine Ocak, a member of Saturday Mothers Turkish group is detained by Turkish female riot police during a demonstration on August 25, 2018 in Istanbul. - Istanbul police break up a regular demonstration by Turkish mothers and other relatives of people that were forcibly disappeared in the 1980s and 1990s, detaining dozens as they marked holding the 700th such weekly protest. (Photo by Hayri TUNC / AFP) (Photo credit should read HAYRI TUNC/AFP/Getty Images) ------- The photo shows Emine Ocak, mother of Hasan Ocak, who was forcibly disappeared in the hands of the state in 1995 at age 23. The longstanding peaceful vigil known as the ‘Saturday Mothers’ vigil first started as a response to the hundreds of reported cases of enforced disappearances during the 1980s and 1990s by relatives of people who were forcibly disappeared and to protest against the prevalent impunity for grave human rights violations of the day. The exact circumstances of the disappearances in the vast majority of cases are still unknown, including the fate and whereabouts of hundreds of victims, and those responsible have not been brought to justice. Saturday Mothers have held 699 peaceful gatherings since May 1995. During this time, many participants have faced intimidation, harassment, excessive use of force, arbitrary detention and unjust prosecution. In 1999, as a result, the organizers decided to stop holding the weekly vigils, which resumed in 2009 to continue with their demand of truth and justice for all cases of enforced disappearances. On 25 August, police in Istanbul used unnecessary and excessive force, including tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons, to disperse participants of a weekly vigil - known as the ‘Saturday Mothers vigil’ - held for victims of enforced disappearance. The longstanding protest was marking its 700th week since it was first held in 1995. Scores of participants, including elderly relatives of people who were forcibly disappeared in the hands of the state, were ill-treated and 47 people were detained before being released from police custody later that day.

23rd April 2024
Solidarity with the Saturday Mothers / People

Russian activist and journalist Maria Ponomarenko at court

18th April 2024
Urgent Action: Russia – Free Maria Ponomarenko

Image depicting abuses on TikTok experienced by children and young people. (Amnesty Tech)

18th April 2024
Make TikTok safer for children and young people

16th April 2024
Urgent Action: Iran – Drug-Related Executions Surging in Iran

12th April 2024
Urgent Action: Saudi Arabia – Free Saudi Arabia’s voices of change

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