Germany: Activists bring coffins to protest against PKK

By Mesut Zeyrek

COLOGNE, Germany (AA) - A demonstration was staged on Saturday in western Germany against PKK terrorist organization.

Activists in Cologne city gathered with coffins wrapped in the German flag and photographs symbolizing German soldiers.

Speaking to reporters at Heumarkt Square, Bilgili Uretmen, organizer of the demonstration, said: "The German media is unfortunately not introducing PKK as a terrorist organization here.

"With this protest, I want to help the Germans to emphasize with Turks who are saddened by the news of their martyrs. Unfortunately, these people do not understand what we have experienced in the terrorist attacks.

"They [German media] do not cover news of [Turkey’s] martyrs. They present a good image of [PKK] terrorists, as the terror group fought against Daesh. However, there are no good and bad terrorists," Uretmen said.

He also criticized the German police for allowing PKK sympathizers to stage terror propaganda in German cities.

“We condemn this double standard and we protest against the German media," Uretmen added.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the death of nearly 40,000 people, including those of women and children.

More than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the PKK resumed its decades-old acts of terror in July 2015.