‘Part of me died when PKK stole my child’: Kurdish father

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey Born and raised in an impoverished life in Sanliurfa, in southern Turkey, Suleyman Aydin did not have financial support from his family and did not have a proper education. He made a promise to himself that he would do his best to help his son, Ozkan, reach his educational potential. But those dreams collapsed when the PKK terror group forcibly abducted his son in 2015. Aydin, who earns a living as a driver, refused the PKK-imposed fate and took action by searching for Ozkan, who he said was taken to Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) in northern Syria to fight under the banner of the YPG – the Syrian branch of the PKK terror group. The weeping father’s search for his 15-year-old son took him to a region, where he, along with his wife, was beaten by terror affiliates who did not allow him to see his son or return home together. “I swear to God that part of me died when the PKK stole my child. Upon learning that mothers started a protest, I told myself that I could still have my son back, therefore I joined the protesters without hesitation,” he said of anti-PKK demonstrations launched by parents whose children were abducted by the terror group. The sit-ins began Sept. 3, 2019, in Diyarbakir when mothers said their children were forcibly recruited by PKK terrorists. The protests are staged outside the office of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which the government accuses of having links to the YPG/PKK. “I was born into a poor family and did not have good opportunities. I wanted my son to have a better life, so I worked hard to provide for my family,” said Aydin. “However, the PKK took my child away and destroyed our lives.” Aydin accused the HDP of playing a role in Ozkan’s abduction and he said almost all of the PKK terrorists who surrendered to Turkish authorities have confirmed his belief. He said HDP officials once went to his house for “reconciliation” but Aydin kicked them out after they uttered threats. “About fifteen days ago, PKK terrorists set up an ambush outside my house. I know what would have happened if it had not been for the help of my neighbors and security authorities who arrived at the scene shortly after,” he said. “They would have massacred me and my family.” He said he is not afraid of anyone or anything, and the defiant father added that no ideology or political cause could justify recruiting children and the PKK agenda did not ease the suffering of Kurdish people, in fact, the terror group’s actions added to their suffering. “Hundreds of children at ages of 14, 15 were taken by the PKK. Does this have anything to do with human rights? Tell me! Does this help Kurdish people?” he asked. “The PKK terrorists say they protect Kurds yet only a stupid one would believe that.” “We are not buying their lies, and determined to stay here till our last breath. Bring our kids back!” Aydin, who is 43, said some circles in Turkey were skeptical about the protests and he acknowledged that they were politically motivated, however, he said this was far from the truth for families willing to end protest the day their children were returned. “The PKK prevents the region from developing and take the right to education from our children. The HDP, on the other hand, is acting as if it was a child-trafficker working for the PKK. I have not and will not accept this,” he said. “The terror group and the HDP do not want our children to be educated because they know they can easily trick illiterate people and send our children to mountains [to join terror group]. This is not how people demanding peace would act,” he said. Aydin said all of the families would resolutely maintain their protest until their children were returned and he noted the awakening of families would put an end to terrorism once and for all. A total of 167 families, including those from different Turkish provinces, have joined the protest and 19 terrorists have surrendered to security forces. 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 some 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.