Ankara: Trkiye’s Ministry of National Defense has released a compelling video detailing the recruitment and exploitation of children by the PKK/YPG terrorist organization. The ministry disclosed that the footage includes testimonies from former child recruits who were coerced into the organization’s activities through various forms of manipulation and abuse.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry’s statement highlights that these children were kidnapped and forced into the ranks of the PKK/YPG, where they were subjected to threats, blackmail, and torture. The ministry referenced UN reports from 2022, which corroborate the claims that thousands of children have been abducted and mistreated by the group’s leaders.
The PKK, which is identified as a terrorist organization by Trkiye, the US, and the EU, has waged a 40-year campaign of terror against Trkiye, resulting in the deaths of over 40,000 individuals, including numerous civilians. The YPG serves as the PKK’s Syrian affiliate. Testimonies from children
who have escaped to Trkiye describe the PKK/YPG as one of the most malevolent terrorist entities globally.
The Turkish Ministry emphasized its unwavering commitment to combating terrorism, particularly against the PKK/PYD/YPG/SDG factions, with an aim to eliminate the abduction of children in the region. The ministry’s statement concluded with a call for those ensnared by these terrorist organizations to surrender and seek justice as their path to liberation.
