PKK terror suspects face trial for extortion, forced recruitment in France

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) — A French court started judging PKK terror suspects on Tuesday for extortion and forced recruitment, local media reported.

The trial for terrorism financing will continue until April 14 at the correctional court, while the suspects do not openly acknowledge being members of the PKK terror group, the Le Figaro newspaper said.

Investigators, however, are convinced of their membership and that the PKK is using France, Germany, and the Netherlands as its backyard for clandestine cells to mobilize the support of local Kurdish communities, reported the daily.

The investigation began in 2020 after two statements in southeastern France, about the disappearance of two young women, Le Figaro added.

Investigators say they have uncovered a network aiming to form recruitment camps across Europe to imbue the recruits with the terrorist group's ideology, before they are incorporated into its armed organization.

Many of the so-called recruits were actually abducted and taken away from their families, the probe also showed.

It revealed that PKK members harassed people to provide funds for the group, the investigation found, with around €2 million ($2.18 million) collected annually in southeastern France.

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 over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.