PKK supporters protest in Belgium

By Ata Ufuk Seker

BRUSSELS

Sympathizers of the PKK terrorist organization held a protest in Belgium's capital Brussels on Thursday.

According to local media, with the permission of the Belgian authorities about 2,000 people gathered in Schuman Square -- home also to EU institutions such as the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.

Reports suggested about 10,000 people were expected to participate in the demonstration, but 2,000 supporters showed up.

During the demonstration, people carried pro-PKK flags.

Remzi Kartal, said to be a senior member of the PKK in Europe, plus Turkish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party lawmakers Faysal Sariyildiz and Tugba Hazer Ozturk -- who face outstanding arrest warrants -- were also present.

Belgium has been criticized in the past for failing to act against the PKK. In August, the group's supporters in Brussels were allowed to celebrate the anniversary of the terror organization's first attack; five months earlier, sympathizers set up tents outside EU buildings ahead of a Turkey-EU summit.

Aside from Belgium, the PKK is also active in other EU countries such as Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Greece.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year and has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,100 security force members and civilians, including women and children.