On 6 June, Saturday Mothers commemorated Turkish author Sabahattin Ali, who was killed 76 years ago in a conspiracy involving Turkish National Security Service.
Ali, a political dissident, was incarcerated in early 1940s, and after his release his application for a passport was denied. Following his disappearance in 1948, his remains were found on 16 June. He is believed to have been killed near the Bulgarian border, supposedly on 1 or 2 April.
Gathering in Istanbul’s Galatasaray Square, the Saturday Mothers called for bringing to light the true conditions of Sabahattin Ali’s death.
Speaking at the gathering, Human Rights Association (IHD) representative Sebla Ercan said:
“The official account of Ali’s death was that he was killed whilst trying to cross into Bulgaria by a smuggler with strong nationalist sentiments. However, his family and friends have always believed that he was killed while he was interrogated under torture by the police in the city of Kirklareli.”
She added:
“Ali’s remains should be exhumed and the conditions of his death should be investigated and brought to light. The classified documents in state archives should be disclosed and public access to the contents of these documents should be allowed.”
Ali’s novels were published as Penguin Classics, his short novel “Madonna in a Fur Coat,” published in 1943, is considered one of the best novellas in Turkish literature.
The Saturday Mothers, inspired by the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina, have been seeking justice since mid 1990s for the victims of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances.