Another family joins anti-PKK protest in southeastern Turkey

By Aziz Aslan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) - Another family on Monday joined the ongoing protest against the PKK terror group in southeastern Turkey.

Since Sept. 3, 2019, families whose children have been abducted or forcibly recruited by the PKK terror group have been camping outside the Diyarbakir offices of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), a party the Turkish government says has links with the PKK.

Demonstrations have since spread to other provinces, including Van, Mus, Sirnak and Hakkari.

Adil Timur joined the protest for his brother Nurettin, who was taken away by the PKK terror group seven years ago, bringing the total number of families participating in the sit-in in Diyarbakir to 250.

“He disappeared a year after my mother passed away. We have not heard from my brother for seven years,” he said.

“I will not leave (the protest site) until my brother returns,” he said, and urged Nurettin to surrender to Turkish forces.

The families also held a protest march, chanting anti-PKK slogans such as "There is no way to terror", "Turk-Kurds are brothers, HDP is treacherous", "Martyrs are immortal, our land is indivisible" and "Mothers' revolt will defeat the PKK."

The families carried Turkish flags, photographs of their children, as well as anti-PKK banners and posters during the protests.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

* Writing by Zehra Nur Duz