THE SATURDAY MOTHERS

Campaigning Award | Winner | Freedom of Expression Awards

In an era when protest is under threat globally, one group stands as a symbol of endurance and determination. Turkey’s Saturday Mothers are the winners of Index on Censorship’s 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards in campaigning. The category honours activists and campaigners who have had a marked impact in fighting censorship and promoting freedom of expression.

For thirty years, Saturday Mothers have held peaceful protests in Istanbul, demanding justice for their loved ones who had been disappeared by the state. Their dedication and perseverance offers a clear reminder to us all that the fight for human rights does not happen overnight.

Across the world, protestors are being targeted and protest rights are being eroded. In Turkey, President Erdoğan’s government has challenged activists, imprisoned opposition figures and crushed independent media. Against this backdrop, the Saturday Mothers’ continued campaign offers a lesson in peaceful resistance.

A representative from Saturday Mothers said:

“It gives us strength and hope that our struggle has been recognised by this esteemed jury. We see this award both as support for our ongoing struggle and as a call that deepens our responsibility. For those who resist denial and impunity, the greatest motivation comes from recognition that says: ‘I see you. I hear your voice.’”

The winners were announced on 19 November at a ceremony in London. The jury panel for the 2025 awards is made up of Baroness Hollick OBE; Can Dündar, award-winning journalist; Sir Trevor Phillips OBE, chair of Index on Censorship; Ben Preston, Culture, Arts and Books Editor of The Times & Sunday Times; Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO of Index on Censorship.

The 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards are sponsored by Rosenblatt Law (headline sponsor), Edwardian Hotels (event sponsor), News UK (Journalism), and the Hollick Family Foundation (Campaigning).