Turkey: Another family joins protest against YPG/PKK

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Another family joined a months-long sit-in protest against the YPG/PKK terror group’s child recruitment in southeastern Turkey.

On its 179th day, Mehmet Halil Elicumus joined the protests staged outside the Diyarbakir office of the people’s Democratic Party (HDP), a political party accused by the government of having links to the terrorist organization YPG/PKK.

Father Elicumus claimed that his 19-year-old son was deceived by the terror group in Istanbul where he had gone for employment purpose. He said his son Ramazan was later kidnapped in southeastern Sirnak province six months ago.

“I want my son back from HDP. I will not leave here without my son,” Elicumus said, adding that he is determined to protest until he reunites with his son.

The protest started on Sept. 3 outside the offices of HDP in Diyarbakir when Fevziye Cetinkaya, Remziye Akkoyun, and Aysegul Bicer said their children had been forcibly recruited by PKK terrorists.

Since then, the number of families protesting in front of the building, and demanding the return of their children -- whom they claim were deceived or kidnapped by the terror group -- has been rising.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and 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 Seda Sevencan in Ankara.