The Turkish government has banned weekly demonstrations of so-called Saturday mors who have been asking for information about ir missing relatives for decades. Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu justified ban with alleged links to a "terrorist organization" as official news agency Anadolu reported. "Should we have closed our eyes to use of morhood by a terrorist organisation?" said Soylu of news agency.
The government wanted to put an end to "exploitation and fraud", minister said. For first time in years, on Saturday, police had once again dissolved an event of women garing in Istanbul every week. Istanbul authorities justified procedure with alleged links to banned workers ' Party of Kurdistan (PKK). Moreover, rally was not declared.
Suspended between 1999 and 2009 protestsAlmost 50 people were arrested and released by now. Among m was also 82-year-old Emine Okac, one of leaders of movement. Saturday mors want to remember fate of ir loved ones who were detained in Turkey in 1980s and 90s and have since disappeared.
Since n, activists have accused government of never having investigated whereabouts of disappeared. Since May 1995, Turkish women have refore been walking peacefully on streets every week. Between 1999 and 2009, y had to suspend ir demonstrations, as police regularly dissolved meetings.
When relatives disappeared, Turkey was in a time of conflict: 1984 began in souast of country armed struggle of PKK against Turkish government. In addition, a number of political activists were arrested after 1980 military coup.
Date Of Update: 28 August 2018, 12:00
