Resistance from generation to generation: The Saturday Mothers in Istanbul

Abstract

The Saturday Mothers (Cumartesi Anneleri) are a group that has gathered in Istanbul for a 30-min sit-in every Saturday since 1995 seeking justice for forced disappearances and political murders in Turkey. What started with a group of approximately 30 mainly family and close relatives of those who disappeared has grown to include thousands of participants. The initial protests were composed predominantly of mothers of victims, but over the past 28 years other relatives, including children, have joined the vigils. In many cases, those children then continue to participate and join the social movement. We are particularly interested in the Saturday Mothers' ability to sustain participation in weekly collective action, including the ways in which intergenerational transmission shapes and encourages this action. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 members of the Saturday Mothers. Analysis of participants' narratives and experiences included three main themes: family as a model, shared experiences, and functions of the movement. Findings highlight the complex interplay between familial influences, collective memory, and the formation of the Saturday Mothers' identity.