From Didem Soydan to Saturday Mothers: I Apologize to You on Their Behalf

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A verdict of non-prosecution has been given for the investigation that was launched against model Didem Soydan on charge of "propagandizing for an armed terrorist organization" due to her social media posts about Saturday Mothers/People, whose weekly sit-in protests at Galatasaray Square in Beyoğlu have been prevented since their 700th week on August 25, 2018.

Regarding the investigation, the following message has been shared on the Twitter account of Saturday Mothers/People:

"The ones who don't touch those who made people disappear are trying to fabricate crimes against the ones giving a voice to our demand for justice. It is not a crime to share our grief. Didem Soydan is the voice of conscience."

In response, Soydan has posted the following message:

"You are the dewdrops falling on the mass of garbage. You are beloved. If they made you sad with these news in all your sadness, I apologize to you once again on their behalf."

Verdict of non-prosecution for her social media post

The investigation was launched against Soydan for her Instagram post, where she shared the image of Emine Ocak, the mother of Hasan Ocak, who disappeared in custody in 1995. Soydan posted the following message:

"A mother, looking for her son... Her son, who was taken into custody and disappeared.... For me, their name is lexical equivalents of love, not giving up, heart and motherhood. Saturday Mothers, I apologize to you. I apologize to you for the way you are treated. You are the dewdrops falling on the mass of garbage. I apologize to you."

After a criminal complaint was filed to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for this post, an investigation was launched against Soydan on charge of "propagandizing for an armed terrorist organization." A verdict of non-prosecution has been given for the investigation.

Since their 700th gathering to be held at Galatasaray Square in Beyoğlu, İstanbul on August 25, 2018, Saturday Mothers/People have been prevented from gathering at the square. Since then, Saturday Mothers/People have been making their weekly statements for the press in front of Human Rights Association's (İHD) İstanbul Office in Beyoğlu each Saturday. (EKN/SD)