Emine Ocak was sent off to her final resting place in Galatasaray Square.
Sebla Arcan, a member of the Commission Against Disappearances in Custody of the Istanbul Branch of the Human Rights Association, spoke at the ceremony. Arcan described the life of Emine Ocak, who changed 30 years ago in Galatasaray Square.
Sebla Arcan, member of the IHD Commission Against Disappearances in Custody: "Galatasaray Square grew with him, resisted with him. And rest assured, his memory will live here, on these stones, in this square, forever." pic.twitter.com/7fmT8cLJJF
— Medyascope (@medyascope) July 24, 2025
Arcan said, "The course of Emine Ocak's life changed here 30 years ago. She came to Galatasaray as Hasan's mother, but she became a hero who refused to bow to injustice. Mother Emine was the conscience of this country. She was the voice of the lost, of those who were tried to silence."
Arcan emphasized the need to continue Emine Ocak's struggle, saying, "We are here until the missing are found and the perpetrators are brought to justice. We will not remain silent until peace, law, and justice return to these lands."
Hüseyin Ocak told his mother's life story:
"Emine was born in Dersim in January 1937. She was born in a region where the genocide began. From that day on, death never left my mother," he said.
Ali Ocak said they would carry their mother's demand for justice and equality throughout their lives. He said, "Everyone who objected to oppression and exploitation was a Hasan to her. We will continue to keep this culture and this belief alive."
Emine Ocak's friends in the struggle and relatives of the missing spoke to Medyascope.
Süleyman Cihan's brother, Ahmet Cihan, said that Emine Ocak had fought for 30 years. "We were actually expecting her death, but we didn't. This square existed with her for 30 years. It will exist with her after that, too, because there are memories here, there is her struggle. We will miss her," he said.
Mikail Kırbayır, brother of Cemil Kırbayır, who disappeared in custody, explained his feelings as follows:
Today is a difficult day. A wounded day. A painful day. Because we have lost our resilient mother, Emine Ocak, who has been fighting for humanity, democracy, and justice in Galatasaray since 1995. Emine Ocak was an iconic figure. Baba Ocak and Emine Ocak initiated the quest for rights, the fight for justice and confrontation against denial. Without them, there would have been no resistance in Galatasaray Square. They gathered the relatives of all those disappeared in custody, from Ardahan to Edirne, here. They fought together here. We were orphaned, we were left orphaned.
Human rights defender Nimet Tanrıkulu spoke about her acquaintance, Emine Ocak. Explaining that she met Emine Ocak in Dersim and that their paths crossed again in Galatasaray Square, Tanrıkulu said, “From the moment the struggle began in Galatasaray, we were always side by side; we were always together.”
Nimet Tanrıkulu, who stated that Emine Ocak found the lifeless body of her son Hasan Ocak but still did not give up the fight, continued her words as follows:
"He would say, 'I want the perpetrators to be tried, but that alone is not enough. I will not leave this square until all the missing are found.' He was in this square as long as his health permitted. When his health deteriorated, he continued his resistance from his home."
Eren Keskin also said that Emine Ocak displayed great resistance, saying, "She has a great tradition of resistance behind her. Such resistance that she was able to reopen Galatasaray Square, which had been closed. We owe her a great deal."
DEM Party MP Pervin Buldan also spoke at the ceremony. Buldan, the wife of Savaş Buldan, who disappeared in custody, said, “This square belonged to Mother Emine. She was the mother of not just Hasan, but all the disappeared.”
Eren Keskin, co-chair of the Human Rights Association, said that Emine Ocak led the world's longest-running civil disobedience action, adding, "This struggle was so powerful that it made even those who disliked us open this square."
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