Turkey: Families resolute in anti-PKK terror protest

By Osman Bilgin

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) - Families seeking the return of their children kidnapped by the YPG/PKK terror group are continuing a sit-in protest on its 501st day in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakir.

The protest began on Sept. 3, 2019 in Diyarbakir when three mothers said YPG/PKK terrorists had forcibly recruited their children.

The sit-in outside the provincial office of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) -- which the government accuses of having links to the terrorist YPG/PKK -- has been growing every day.

Nazli Sancar, whose daughter Seyma was abducted nine years ago at the age of 15 in the eastern Van province, demanded the return of her daughter.

Sancar said: “I don’t know if my daughter is alive or dead. All parents here are in the same position. What does HDP, PKK want from us?”

“My daughter had dreams. She wanted to continue her education. They took away my heart nine years ago. Enough is enough!” she continued.

She called on her daughter to surrender to security forces. “As all families here, we are determined to take our children back,” Sancar added.

Salih Gokce, whose son Mehmet was abducted four years ago, is a father who came to Diyarbakir from the eastern province of Agri to join the protest.

“I want my son back from HDP. HDP took my child away,” Gokce said.

In its more than 30-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 some 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. YPG is its Syrian offshoot.

* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara