Director of Communications Altun: "Diyarbakır mothers are waging one of the largest and most powerful civil resistances to save their children, who have been kidnapped and ensnared by the terrorist organisation PKK, from the swamp of terrorism.”
Presidency’s Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun addressed the participants with a video message at the "A Societal Protest of the PKK’s Recruitment of Children: Diyarbakır Mothers against the PKK Panel" organised by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications in The Hague, Netherlands, and gave a message of support to Diyarbakır Mothers.
Director of Communications Altun pointed out the fact that Diyarbakır mothers are waging one of the largest and most powerful civil resistances to save their children, who have been kidnapped and ensnared by the terrorist organisation PKK, from the swamp of terrorism. Director of Communications Altun said, "They are writing the story of valour that has withstood 1,000 days despite all the terrorist groups' threats and pressures and a blessed resistance that defies terrorism."
Stating that Diyarbakır mothers have become the outcry that seared the conscience of the society of thousands of mothers and their children who were abducted by the terrorist organisation PKK, which has shed blood for years, whether of babies, children, women, teachers, police, or soldiers. Director of Communications Altun said, "Theirs is the rightful revolt against terrorism of mothers who have been compelled to conceal their pain thus far; repressed, intimidated, and even silenced for 40 years as a result of the terrorist organisation's brutality and persecution."
Indicating that this resistance also revealed the true face of those who claim to defend and represent the Kurdish people's rights, Director of Communications Altun noted that it revealed how the bloodthirsty terrorist organisation truly regards the Kurdish people, as well.
"They have become the collective voice and conscience of our country's 83 million people"
Stating that all Diyarbakır mothers want is to reunite with and hug their children, Director of Communications Altun continued:
"Since September 3, 2019, Diyarbakır Mothers have been on children watch every day, no matter the season. They made a concerted effort to communicate with their abducted children, some of whom were just 9 or 10 years old, who had been held in terror camps across the border for years. The PKK terrorist organisation's propaganda and the wall of fear it was trying to build on the Kurdish people were destroyed by the continuation of the children watch for 1000 days and its spread to other cities.”
35 families have been reunited with their children
Explaining that as a result of both the courage of the mothers for their children and the anti-terrorism policies of the Republic of Türkiye in the region, the families participating in the watch began to take their children from the bloody hands of the organisation, one by one, Director of Communications Altun reported that thus, 35 families that have participated in children watch so far have been reunited with their children due to their escape from the organisation and surrender to our security forces.
Director of Communications Altun emphasised that it is impossible to ignore this social movement, this blessed march; not to take heed of this voice and lend support to these mothers who yearn for their children, saying, " Since day one, our President has backed and stood by the Diyarbakır mothers in their noble cause. And, Diyarbakır Mothers have always talked about how this support from our President encouraged them and how this support gave them strength, and they continue to do so.”
"Everyone has a responsibility to support this resistance”
Stressing how it is a humanitarian and conscientious responsibility that all NGOs, human rights defenders, activists, artists, intellectuals, journalists, and politicians stand by Diyarbakır Mothers, Director of Communications Altun added, “Everyone has a responsibility to support this resistance. It is incumbent upon citizens of all walks of life in our country to demonstrate their support for this non-political civil movement. We believe that international support for our cause must stem from faith in peace and democracy."
Director of Communications Altun also highlighted how important it is for them to have this cry heard, seen and understood by some of the allies who have been supporting the bloodshedding terrorist group in various ways for years, and noted:
"This unprecedented children watch also contributed to revealing the true colours of the PKK terrorist organisation even beyond our borders. Thus, European politicians and journalists have seen the Diyarbakır mothers and witnessed the terrorist organisation and its political extensions -those so-called “freedom fighters”- in action and how they viewed the Kurdish population. It is our mission as the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications to ensure that our mothers are reunited with their children, that the dark side of terrorism can be seen by the world public, and that the efforts of our country, which is a determined and reliable actor in the fight against international terrorism, are understood.”
“We expect genuine support and cooperation from friendly and allied countries in the fight against terrorism”
Pointing out how the fight against terror and terrorism necessitates a global and multidimensional effort, Director of Communications Altun went on to say:
“As one of the most exposed countries to terrorist threats and attacks from a variety of groups, including the PKK/YPG, the DHKP-C, and FETO, Türkiye expects genuine support and cooperation from friendly and allied countries in the fight against terrorism. Come what may, we will continue to serve regional and global peace through the strategy of ‘eradicating terrorism at its source’ as our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan puts it. We must be vigilant about the serious threats the terrorists pose to our countries, our common security, and our humanity, and we must take the necessary precautions against it.”
Reiterating their solidarity for the Diyarbakır Mothers, Director of Communications Altun expressed his hope that they will be reunited with their children soon, putting an end to their crying.