Another family joins anti-PKK protest in southeastern Turkey

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Another family joined the ongoing sit-in protest Wednesday against the PKK terror group in southeastern Turkey.

Zeliha Mingsar came from the eastern Kars province to join the demonstration. Her son, Erhan, disappeared 11 years ago when he was just 22.

Mingsar said Erhan was deceived and taken to the mountains.

"HDP kidnapped my child and gave him to the PKK. I want my child," she said, adding that she will continue protesting until her son returns.

Families of children abducted or forcibly recruited by the PKK have been protesting in the Diyarbakir province, calling on their children to lay down arms and surrender to authorities.

The protest began on Sept. 3, 2019, when three mothers said their children had been forcibly recruited by PKK terrorists. The sit-in outside the office of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which the government accuses of having links to the PKK, has been growing since then.

They chant slogans against the PKK and the HDP.

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

* Writing by Beyza Binnur Donmez​​​​​​​