PKK terrorists shoot imam on his way home from a lesson to teach Qur'an to children in eastern Turkey

Imam Bedrettin Fırat, 24, was shot by PKK terrorists late Thursday on his way home in the Şemdinli district of eastern Hakkari province. The imam was seriously wounded, and was taken to the hospital immediately.

On Thursday night, PKK terrorists blocked the Şemdinli-Yüksekova road. In his vehicle, Fırat tried to pass through the PKK terrorists. While he was trying to flee the area, PKK members opened fire on his vehicle. He was seriously wounded in the gunfire and was taken to Şemdinli State Hospital. Afterwards he was taken to the neighboring province of Van via military helicopter for treatment.

The Turkish government has intensified its counterterror operations following the recent attacks carried out by the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey.

Formed in 1978, the terrorist group had been fighting the Turkish government for an independent state until the early 2000's. The group then shifted its goal to autonomy in predominately Kurdish inhabited regions of Turkey.

The PKK announced on July 11 that the cease-fire which was declared via a message from the PKK's imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan in 2013 has ended.