Turkish sit-in families want their children to return during Eid al-Adha holiday

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Families in southeastern Turkey whose children were kidnapped by the PKK terror group long to spend the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday together.

They have been protesting for 686 straight days since Sept. 3, 2019, encouraging their children to give up their weapons and surrender to Turkish authorities.

The protests outside the office of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Diyarbakir started with three mothers who said their children were forcibly recruited by the terrorists.

The Turkish government accuses the HDP of having links to the PKK terror organization.

Solmaz Ogrunc said her son was abducted by PKK when he was 15, five years ago.

“It has been 10 Eids since I last saw my son. An ember burns where it falls. Let them get their dirty hands off our children. I hope my son will come and have a double holiday,” said Ogrunc, who added that she will continue to protest until she is reunited with her son.

Suleyman Aydin, who is protesting for his son, Ozkan, said the families have continued protesting even during the Eid al-Adha holiday which commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son at God's command before the last-minute divine substitute of a ram.

“While everyone is celebrating, we await the arrival of our children,” said Aydin, adding he will continue sit-in protests until his son returns and would not give up.

Aydin urged his son to surrender to the security forces and put an end to the longing.