N. Iraq: PKK terrorists' testimonies reveal child abuse

By Sarp Ozer

ANKARA (AA) - The PKK terrorists, who are under the custody of Turkish security forces, revealed children in the group’s squad were exposed to abuse by their fellow terrorists in northern Iraq.

According to the testimonies of surrendered PKK terrorists, a “child squad” was comprising of around 30 children of ages ranging from 9 to 14 years in northern Iraq’s Zap region, said the security sources on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Some of the girls in this squad were raped and those who got pregnant were taken to the nearest hospital in the region to terminate their pregnancy despite the risk of their lives, the sources added.

Some of the children reportedly attempted suicide as they could not overcome the trauma of the incident.

Another terror group member said in their testimony that some of the girls were executed after they were subjected to abuse.

The terrorist said he/she escaped the terror group as the situation did become unbearable.

According to the testimonies, quitting the terror group is on the rise while the influence of so-called ringleaders in Iraq's Mt. Qandil on other PKK terrorists has also decreased.

Mt. Qandil is home to the PKK terror group's headquarters.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the death of some 40,000 people.