DIYARBAKIR, Türkiye

A sit-in in Türkiye’s southeastern Diyarbakir province continues to grow as one more family joined the protest against the PKK terror group.

Since Sept. 3, 2019, the protesting families have been camping outside the offices of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), a party the Turkish government says has links to the PKK.

Abdulkadir Eslek, who joined the sit-in along with his wife Zeliha, said his son Isa was kidnapped six years ago when he was just 15.

“I want my son back from HDP. We are here for him,” Eslek said.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Zeliha said: “All mothers (of the abducted children) are devastated.”

Demonstrations have also spread to other provinces, including Van, Mus, Sirnak, and Hakkari.

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

The protest has borne fruit as dozens of children forcibly abducted or recruited by the terror group fled the PKK and reunited with their families.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar