Turkey: Another family joins anti-YPG/PKK protest

By Mehmet Siddik Kaya

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) - One more family has joined the ongoing protest against the YPG/PKK terror group in Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey.

Gulcan and Ismet Komurcu joined the protest for the recovery of their daughter, Leyla, who they claimed was kidnapped by YPG/PKK terrorists six years ago from the western Canakkale province.

Mothers of missing children started the sit-in protest last September outside the Diyarbakir office of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a party also accused by the government of having links to the YPG/PKK terror group.

Gulcan and Ismet traveled from the southwestern Antalya province to join the sit-in on its 189th day. They said Leyla was 23 years old and studying at a university in Canakkale when she was abducted by the YPG/PKK terror group.

“My girl, we love you so much. If you hear my voice, please come back to us,” Gulcan said.

She said she decided to join the protest after seeing it on television and vowed not to leave until her daughter’s safe return.

The protest was first launched on Sept. 3 last year by three women, Fevziye Cetinkaya, Remziye Akkoyun, and Aysegul Bicer, who said their children were forcibly recruited by YPG/PKK terrorists.

The number of families at the protest has steadily increased over the past months.

A total of 13 families have been reunited with their children so far.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the YPG/PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.

The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.

* Writing by Burak Dag