Families continue anti-PKK protest in southeastern Türkiye on Eid al-Adha

By Omer Yasin Ergin

DIYARBAKIR, Turkiye (AA) – Families of those kidnapped by the PKK terrorist group have continued their sit-in protest in southeastern Türkiye on Saturday, which marks the first day of Eid al-Adha, a Muslim religious festival.

Since Sept. 3, 2019, protesting families in Diyarbakir province have been camping outside the offices of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which the Turkish government says has links to the PKK terrorist group.

Sariye Tokay, whose son was abducted by the terrorist organization 22 years ago, said the HDP is to blame for what happened to her son.

“We cannot celebrate Eid without him,” she told Anadolu Agency, pleading with him to turn himself into security forces and reunite with his family.

Vahide Ciftci, another mother from the southeastern Hakkari province, said her daughter Ozlem was abducted by the PKK five years ago when she was only 12.

Abdulkadir Eslek, who is protesting to reunite with his son Isa, also expressed profound sorrow for the long time he has been suffering.

“Isa, my son, please hear me and surrender to the security forces along with your friends,” he appealed.

The sit-in protest, which entered its 1,041st day on Saturday, bore fruit, as dozens of children who had been abducted or recruited by the terror group fled the PKK and reunited with their families.

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

* Writing by Ahmet Gencturk​​​​​​​