Another family reunites with child abducted by PKK
Kurdish families, whose children were abducted by the PKK, stage a sit-in protest in southeastern Diyarbakır province, Oct. 13, 2020. (DHA Photo)


One more family on Tuesday reunited with their child abducted by the PKK terrorist group in southeastern Turkey.

An aggrieved family's longing has come to an end after Ibrahim Çetin, who was abducted and taken to the mountains by the terrorists six years ago surrendered to Turkish security forces.

The reunion of the Çetin Family from the eastern province of Erzurum gave hope to other families, whose sit-in protest in front of the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) provincial headquarters in southeastern Diyarbakır province marked 407 days.

So far, 19 families have reunited with their children since the start of the sit-in on Sept. 3, 2019.

Gülbahar Teker, another mother from eastern Muş province whose son was also abducted by the PKK six years ago, called on all forcibly recruited children to surrender to Turkish security sources.

Süleyman Aydın, who joined the sit-in for his son, said: "Our sit-in protest is yielding results. We will continue to protest."

A large protest among Kurdish families started when Hacire Akar turned up at the doorstep of the HDP office one night after her son was abducted by the PKK. A week later, on Sept. 3, 2019, families inspired by Akar transformed her solo stance into a collective sit-in protest.

Various groups from around Turkey have supported the Kurdish mothers in their cause, with many paying visits to show their support.

The protest started to spread to other provinces as well when Kurdish mother Emine Üstek launched a similar movement in southeastern Şırnak province on Sept. 17. Some relatives of those who were killed or injured by the PKK joined Üstek in support of her protest.

In its more than 40-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.