PKK/PYD terrorists continue to use children in terror attacks

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terror organization and its Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), continue to use children to carry out terrorist attacks, according to Turkey’s Permenant Representative to the United Nations, Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu.

Sinirlioğlu stated that PKK/PYD terrorists recruit and use boys and girls under the age of 15 years old in terrorist attacks.

He noted the increasing involvement of non‑state actors in such violations, among whom are Daesh, Boko Haram and PKK/PYD terrorists.

Speaking at the UN Security Council, Sinirlioğlu expressed Turkey’s concern on the subject of “children in conflict zones” during the session, in reference to the most recent report by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on children and armed conflict.

Sinirlioğlu said that the international community must display joint and robust political determination as well as concerted action in addressing the situation, noting that “In that context, Turkey continued to support the well-being of children in vulnerable situations, hosting some 3.3 million displaced by conflict and exerting every effort to meet the education needs of the approximately 835,000 school‑age Syrian children in the country.”

Sinirlioğlu called once again on the international community to act in conformity with the principle of responsibility and burden-sharing in that regard.

Addressing the Selok massacre in Raqqa, Sinirlioğlu noted that “The PYD is the Kurds’ Daesh. The U.S is trying to use one terror organization to destroy another. How can that be?”

U.S-backed PKK/PYD terrorists have forcefully displaced Arab and Türkmen populations in Raqqa’s Tal Abyad and Selok regions, forcing Arab youths to pick up arms or be killed.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. The PKK has been conducting armed violence in the southeastern part of Turkey since 1984. More than 40,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the three-decade long conflict.