Ahmet Kaplan
29 February 2020•Update: 29 February 2020
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey
Two more mothers joined a months-long sit-in protest Friday against the YPG/PKK terror group’s child recruitment in southeast Turkey.
Saadet Kartal joined the protest in its 179th day, outside the Diyarbakir office of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) that is accused by the government of having links to the YPG/PKK.
Kartal said her son, Sukru, was deceived by the terror group when he was a university student. Kartal said she has not received any news from him in six years.
“My son has two children. I want my son back. Children are waiting for their father,” she said and is determined to protest until she reunites with her son.
Bedriye Topaloglu from southeastern Adıyaman province also protested. She has been looking for her son who was kidnapped nine years ago.
Topaloglu said her son was deceived by the terror group and she is also determined to protest until they are reunited.
“For God’s sake, my son. Come before I die. I don’t want to die in disappointment. I cry for you day and night.” said Topaloglu.
Protest began Sept. 3 outside the offices of HDP in Diyarbakir when Fevziye Cetinkaya, Remziye Akkoyun, and Aysegul Bicer said their children was forcibly recruited by PKK terrorists.
The number of families protesting in front of the building, demanding the return of their children they claim were deceived or kidnapped by the terror group has since increased.
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.
*Writing by Burak Dag
