23 July, 2025
We bow with respect before your thirty years of struggle!
We mourn the loss of Emine Ocak. After struggling to find out the fate of her son, Hasan Ocak, who was detained on 21 March 1995 and never heard from again, she got her son’s grave found and thus sparked the Saturday Mothers’ struggle, which has lasted for over thirty years.
She became the pioneer of the Saturday Mothers protests on May 27, 1995, alongside dozens of others whose relatives had also been forcibly disappeared under detention. The protests they started and their demand, “Find the Disappeared, Prosecute the Perpetrators,” quickly became the demand of millions of people. Emine Ocak’s demands were found response in all over the world.
She was detained dozens of times but she was not deterred by any pressure or detention. She set a modest example for those fighting for democracy and human rights.
Unfortunately, the rulers of the state, haven’t wanted to hear or see the demands of Mother Emine and the dozens of relatives of people who have been forcibly disappeared for 30 years.
Mother Emine, left behind a unique legacy of struggle for human rights defenders and anyone whose heart pounds for democracy.
We declare that we will always remain faithful to her legacy of struggle.
Dear Mother Emine, we want you to know that we will continue the legacy of struggle you left us until we learn the fate of those who were forcibly disappeared.
We will keep on your struggle for finding the perpetrators of disappearances and for the truth and justice.
We will always remember you, our white-haired heroine.
Human Rights Association