The Saturday Mothers gathered again this weekend at Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to demand information about the fate of their relatives who disappeared while in state custody and punishment for the perpetrators. On the 1078th week of their vigil, the Saturday Mothers focused on the case of Hayrettin Eren, who was arrested in Istanbul a few weeks after the 1980 military coup and has not been seen since.
Eren’s case was presented by activist Setenay Yarıcı. “Disappearance is not just the erasure of a life—it is a wound that never heals for families and a permanent violation of the truth,” Yarıcı said. “The only path to healing is through truth and justice. The silence of the authorities is a heavy burden for any society that takes human dignity and the rule of law seriously.”
The case of Hayrettin Eren
Hayrettin Eren was 26 years old when he was arrested by the police together with a friend in the Saraçhane district of Istanbul on November 21, 1980. According to his family, he was first taken to the Karagümrük police station and then transferred, along with eight other people, to the notorious political department in Gayrettepe. That is where all traces of him were lost.
His mother, Elmas Eren, discovered her son’s car in front of the police station – a clear indication that he had been arrested. But when she inquired, she was told, “There is no Hayrettin Eren in custody.” Despite numerous reports, legal initiatives, and witness statements – including those of his fellow prisoners – the authorities denied any responsibility.
“The name Hayrettin Eren disappeared from the files, and those responsible went unpunished,” said Yarıcı. “Even after 45 years, there has been neither a trial nor a credible investigation. But the names of the perpetrators are known—they are listed in the official documents.”
“The state protects the perpetrators”
The Saturday Mothers accuse all governments of the last decades of institutional failure and deliberate cover-ups. “Any government that fails to solve this case is complicit in a crime against humanity.”
Hayrettin’s sister, Ikbal Eren, also spoke and called for the establishment of an independent truth commission: “If you are serious about justice, then create a commission that answers our questions, names the perpetrators, and makes it impossible for such crimes to be repeated.”
Eren also addressed Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya directly: “Remove the barriers at our traditional protest site. Open Galatasaray Square—how can you lock up a public place with handcuffs?”
Remembering so we don’t forget
The vigil ended as it does every week: with the laying of red carnations – a symbol of mourning and unyielding protest. The relatives of the disappeared announced that they would continue until they received justice. “No matter how many years may pass, we will not give up on Hayrettin. We will not give up on anyone.”