Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak attended the sit-in held by relatives of the disappeared, stating that Türkiye must confront the unsolved murders and disappearances of the 1990s. “We will bring this dark period to light,” she said.

Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak, DBB Council Co-Spokespersons Demet Ceylan and Ayhan Karatekin, MPs, district municipality co-mayors, and representatives of political parties and civil society organisations attended the 900th-week event held by the Diyarbakır Branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) and relatives of the disappeared in front of the Right to Life Monument in Koşuyolu Park, Bağlar district.

Co-Mayor Bucak: These vigils reflect the truth of this country

Speaking at the event, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak said that, as Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, they stand with the families of the disappeared and will continue to carry this responsibility forward. Co-Mayor Bucak said the struggle stretching from the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in Argentina to the Saturday Mothers in Galatasaray Square represents a shared search for truth, which has continued in Diyarbakır for 900 weeks through the vigil held by relatives of the disappeared. She emphasised that the vigil maintained by relatives of the disappeared and by the families of those killed in unsolved murders is of great importance for the truth of the country.

‘This courage exists among the Kurdish and Turkish peoples’

Co-Mayor Bucak stated that there must be a confrontation with the unsolved murders and disappearances of the 1990s, adding that the struggle for truth continues with the determination of the relatives of the disappeared and human rights defenders. Co-Mayor Bucak said: “Unfortunately, the dark forces and politics of the 1990s do not have the courage to shed light on today. But this courage exists among the relatives of the disappeared, among our mothers, among those of us working in the field of human rights, those waging a struggle for rights and existence, in our society, and among the Kurdish and Turkish peoples. We will bring this light. We will bring this dark period to light.”

‘Let us grow this gathering’

Co-Mayor Bucak said the justice vigil maintained by relatives of the disappeared for 900 weeks must be expanded, making a particular appeal to young people. She stated that the relatives of the disappeared, who gather every Saturday in front of the Human Rights Monument in Koşuyolu, still have not been able to reach the graves or bones of their loved ones. Co-Mayor Bucak called on young people to join the commemorations and take the lead in the vigil.

The event ended following the speeches.