Türkİye

Book recounts story of mothers' struggle against PKK terror group

Writer Tulay Demir Oktay documented action of mothers who continue their sit-in in front of HDP building in Diyarbakir

Aziz Aslan  | 03.09.2021 - Update : 03.09.2021
Book recounts story of mothers' struggle against PKK terror group

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

A book detailing the struggle of grieving mothers to reunite with their children who were abducted by the PKK terrorist group has been published in three languages. 

The mothers have been protesting outside the office of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Diyarbakir province for 731 days since Sept. 3, 2019, encouraging their children to lay down their weapons and surrender to Turkish authorities. They claim their children had been taken to the mountains by the PKK after being brainwashed by members of the party at the Diyarbakir office.

The writer of "My Mother’s Voice," Tulay Demir Oktay, who dedicated herself to telling the story of the mothers’ fight against the PKK terror group for their children’s return, visited the sit-in protest area and presented her book to them.

She spent two years completing the book, which has been published in the Turkish, English and Dutch languages.

Oktay said she was touched by the protesting mothers’ struggle to reunite with their PKK-abducted children during her first visit to the sit-in protest area to interview them. It was also the moment she decided to tell their story to the world, she added.

She noted that she better understood the terror group’s true colors as a result of the mothers’ struggle against it.

Oktay said that although many people in Turkey know about the terrorist organization, it is not widely known abroad.

"For this reason, I wanted to write this book in a foreign language so that Europeans could learn about this subject and I wanted to show how violent terrorism is," she said.

She said the unjust suffering of the mothers and their children’s abduction made her very sad.

"That's why I set out on such a path to introduce it to Europe and to help those who do not know to understand better. I hope to achieve this goal."

"In fact, this book is the work of the mothers. I have no contribution to it. This book narrates their stories,” she said.

She said she was there to support the mothers while they continue to stage their sit-in protest against the terror group.

"As all mothers, we must deliver a message of unity against the terrorist organization together. I expect all mothers who hear our voice tomorrow to support the sit-in mothers."

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

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