Mehmet Siddik Kaya
12 August 2020•Update: 12 August 2020
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey
Another family joined ongoing protests against the YPG/PKK terror group in southeast Turkey.
Abdulsamed Dogan joined the protest in Diyarbakir province, hoping to be reunited with his son, Ferdi, who he said was kidnapped by YPG/PKK terrorists five years ago at the age of only 16 in eastern Mus province.
Dogan said he decided to participate when he saw on television children who escaped the terrorist organization and were reunited with their families.
"Let my child come and take shelter in the state. That's why I came here. We miss him so much," he said.
The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) must give back our son, he added.
Protest began Sept. 3, 2019 in Diyarbakir, when Fevziye Cetinkaya, Remziye Akkoyun and Aysegul Bicer said their children were forcibly recruited by YPG/ PKK terrorists. The sit-in outside the office of the HDP -- which the government accuses of having links to the YPG/PKK -- has grown daily with participation with a number of others.
Protesters vowed to remain until every family reunites with their child.
Under a repentance law, offenders linked to terrorist groups are eligible for reduced sentences, if they surrender.
In its more than 30-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.
The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.
* Writing by Fahri Aksut
