Turkey: Families’ sit-in against PKK terror continues

By Hasan Namli

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (AA) - A sit-in in southeastern Turkey by families pleading for the return of their children kidnapped by the YPG/PKK terror group has entered its 283rd day.

The protest started on Sept. 3, 2019 in Diyarbakir province outside the offices of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), a party accused by the government of having links to the YPG/PKK.

Zekiye Bozdag, whose brother was abducted last year, called on him to surrender to the security forces.

"My brother, come and surrender. We have no strength to resist. I know you regret it. You are looking for an opportunity to come. I want the children of all families to come. I hope the children of all the families here will not stay in the mountains," she said.

Turkan Mutlu, 43, mother of Ceylan Tekin, came all the way from Turkey's northwestern province of Bursa, in the hope of finding her daughter.

Her daughter, 24, disappeared seven years ago when she was just 17 and preparing to study sociology at Turkey's Balikesir University.

“These children are now in the mountains due to HDP. My child has been there for six years. They have dashed our hopes. I want my child back. I will not leave my daughter to HDP or PKK,” she 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 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.