NGOs, women groups back mothers' protest against PKK

ISTANBUL

A number of voluntary groups across Turkey on Wednesday supported mothers' protest outside the provincial office of Turkish opposition, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in the southeastern Diyarbakir province for its alleged links with the PKK terror group.

The protest began on Sept. 3 after a mother, Fevziye Cetinkaya, alleged that her 17-year-old son was forcibly recruited by the PKK, through the members of the HDP.

In a joint statement, representatives of various NGOs, including women rights organizations condemned PKK terrorist group.

The mothers who want their sons back, hopefully will achieve victory, the statement said.

"It is our duty to stand with mothers’ human and innocent resistance. We as women and mothers, are one from Edirne [northwest of Turkey] to Kars [northeastern Turkey]. We invite people all over to stand with the mothers in Diyarbakir," the statement added.

The voluntary groups supported the women who are vowing not to allow the children of Euphrates and Tigris, to be sacrificed like lambs, for the treacherous ambitions of these terrorist groups.

The NGOs said the “silent scream” staged by women, which is growing with the participation of new mothers in Diyarbakir for over past 23 days, has turned into a powerful voice that calls for stopping all the terror in the world.

The statement said that Turkey has been fighting against terrorist organizations and their political extensions, which are trying to harm the future, prosperity, unity and solidarity of the country. “This stance and courage has become hope for every son and mother who fell into the clutches of the terrorist organization,“ the statement added.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.

*Writing by Burak Bir