Who Are We
On May 31, 2010, the Mavi Marmara ship set sail to break the years-long siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the oppressed people of Palestine. During this mission, the ship was brutally attacked by occupying terrorist forces, resulting in the martyrdom of 10 humanitarian volunteers. With its motto “Destination: Palestine – Cargo: Freedom,” the Mavi Marmara ship was stopped by the occupiers, blocking aid from reaching the people of Gaza.
Just six months after the return of this humanitarian flotilla, the Mavi Marmara Association for Freedom and Solidarity was established—bearing the name of the ship that witnessed this great struggle. The association is an independent civil society organization founded to stand against wars, occupations, injustices, and all forms of oppression. Its organizational ethos is rooted in freedom, solidarity, resistance, and mutual aid. Since its establishment, the association has also been actively pursuing the legal process related to the Mavi Marmara attack.
Today, the Mavi Marmara Association is a significant humanitarian organization operating in various parts of the world within the framework of human rights. It was founded to stand in solidarity—economically, legally, culturally, and socially—with individuals and institutions who are unable to fully access their fundamental rights and freedoms, and to support them accordingly.
The association prioritizes keeping the suffering of the Palestinian people and the ongoing oppression in Palestine on the global agenda, aiming to implement all kinds of initiatives and activities in this regard. It operates on a non-profit basis and, while cooperating with many different organizations, it works independently of any political influence or affiliation.
The Mavi Marmara Association is also one of the Turkish representatives of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which has long struggled against the ongoing genocide in Palestine and works to promote peace in the Mediterranean. Just like the Mavi Marmara ship from which it takes its name, the Vicdan ship—coordinated by the association—set sail in 2025 with 12 activists on board to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. While anchored off the coast of Malta, the Vicdanship suffered heavy damage in a drone attack carried out by Israel.
In addition to these efforts, the Mavi Marmara Association also provides professional services for orphans left behind after various disasters, ensuring that all their needs are met with care and dedication.
The association operates through a three-tier structure: the Board of Directors, the Supervisory Board, and independent auditing bodies. The Mavi Marmara Association is regularly audited by authorized governmental bodies within the framework of relevant legislation. In addition to these official inspections, internal auditing mechanismsare in place. The Supervisory Board is also subject to regular audits and reporting by independent external auditors.
In conclusion, as an independent civil society organization, the Mavi Marmara Association for Freedom and Solidarity continues to operate in various regions of our geography today, striving to respond to the needs of the oppressed—regardless of identity—with compassion and solidarity.