19 August 2016•Update: 20 August 2016
ADANA, Turkey
The recent terrorist attacks in Turkey's eastern and southeastern regions, which targeted both civilians and security forces, continue to draw condemnations from individuals and groups nationwide.
People from far and wide in the country poured into streets with Turkish flags in their hands to condemn the PKK terrorist organization, and to show national unity and solidarity.
Elazig is one of the eastern provinces most affected by the terrorist attacks. People in Elazig took to the streets to protest the PKK, coloring the city's streets red and white with their Turkish flags.
Mehmet Polat, 74, was among the people marching against the PKK in Elazig. He said "it is time to unite" against terrorism.
"Nobody can divide our country and Elazig… We are here to support our security forces and Elazig," Gokmen Arslan, another Elazig resident, said.
In eastern Bingol, Bitlis, Siirt, Ardahan and Van provinces, tradesmen and local people gathered after Friday prayers to protest against the terrorist attacks.
Pointing out that the attacks were affecting their business, Resat Yilmaz, a tradesman in Van, said: "We all condemn the terrorist attacks…We want peace and solution in our country…We can sacrifice our buildings for peace of the country."
Some representatives of nongovernmental organizations in Bingol, Bitlis and Siirt gathered to condemn the PKK and Fetullah Terrorist Organization.
Representatives of 57 nongovernmental organizations in Bitlis made a joint statement to condemn the recent terrorist attacks in Van, Elazig and Bitlis.
Birlik (Unity) Platform in Siirt in a statement condemned the recent terrorist attacks. Speaking on behalf of Birlik Platform, Zekeriya Batur, deputy president of Egitim-Bir-Sen, an educational union, said "peace watch" would start from Friday.
"Terrorist organizations are targeting the unity and inseparable integrity of Turkey…For this reason, we would like to show our solidarity with our security forces by starting a peace watch as a show of national will," Batur said.
People also united against terrorism in southeastern Mardin, Batman and Diyarbakir provinces.
In a joint statement, people in Mardin said they would not remain silent against terrorist attacks. They chanted slogans condemning the PKK's attacks on civilians, security forces and soldiers.
Speaking on behalf of nongovernmental organizations in Batman province, Kadir Demir, the president of Batman Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the coup attempt by FETO had been thwarted by the common sense of Turkish people, police forces and soldiers, and the great success of the Turkish government.
In Diyarbakir, a mosque Imam Mehmet Sait Yaz condemned the PKK bomb attacks on security forces and civilians during his sermon. People also gathered after prayers and chanted slogans against the PKK.
Turkey's northwestern Edirne, Kirklareli and Tekirdag provinces also reacted against the recent terrorist attacks.
Demonstrations, led by some nongovernmental organizations against the PKK, also took place in Izmir's Konak Square.
