Minister slams use of 'Kurdish fighter' term for terror

By Dildar Baykan

ANKARA

The use of the term "Kurdish fighter" instead of PYD/PKK terrorist is an attempt to legitimize terrorism, EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik said on Monday.

Celik tweeted: “It is a cruel approach to introduce the terrorist organization as a representative of the Kurdish people.

“Those who do not recognize the PYD/PKK as a terrorist organization think that counterterrorism is a struggle of branding.

"The PYD/YPG is equal to the PKK. Rebranding does not change the character of being a terrorist organization."

In posts made in Turkish on Twitter, the minister also slammed the use of Kurdish children for political objectives.

"It is clear that those who give weapons to terrorist organizations want to use Kurdish children for their political ambitions.

"The PKK/PYD/YPG terrorist organizations are also acting as pawns."

The minister added: "The PKK/PYD/YPG are terror organizations. If anyone is using an ethnic attribute instead, then this is being done to carry out a fundamental purpose through terror."

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and EU. In its three-decade-plus terror campaign against Turkey, more than 40,000 people have been killed.

Since the group resumed its armed campaign in July 2015, more than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives.