For Father's Day, Turkish fathers want PKK to return their kidnapped children

By Aydin Arik

DIYARBAKIR, Türkiye (AA) - Turkish fathers continued their sit-in in the country's southeast in the hope of reuniting with their children on Father's Day.

They say their children were kidnapped or forcibly recruited by the PKK terrorist organization, which the Turkish government maintains has close ties to the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

The protest outside the HDP headquarters in the Diyarbakir province has entered its Day 1,384, with the numbers swelling with each passing day.

Nurettin Odumlu told Anadolu his son, Yusuf was kidnapped 10 years ago.

He said the greatest gift someone could give him would be to reunite him with his son.

"Happy Father's Day to all fathers, we don't have Father's Day. I've been suffering from children for 10 years ... on Father's Day, the best gift for us is our child,” he said.

Haci Guger said his son, Dogan was kidnapped eight years ago.

"We only want our children to return. Like other families who have their children, we dream of embracing our children," Guger told Anadolu.​​​​​​​

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

Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year. This year it will fall on June 18.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas in Istanbul​​​​​​​