"If the terrorist organization had murdered teachers and children in such a heinous way anywhere, it would have dominated the agenda for days, weeks, and months," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a speech at an event marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Last week, at least three people, including a child and a teacher, were killed in multiple rocket attacks by the YPG/PKK terror group in Türkiye’s southeastern Gaziantep province.
"When it comes to Türkiye, apart from the messages of crocodile-tear-like condemnations, neither politicians, NGOs, nor the media make any significant noise about it," Erdogan said.
He also decried the failure of Western human rights defenders to side with Diyarbakir mothers -- a group of mothers protesting and seeking the return of their children that they say were kidnapped by the PKK terror group.
"Where are the global human rights groups? Have you seen any of them besides Diyarbakir mothers? Have you seen any of them visiting the mothers? These Western NGOs that go all the way to Qandil Mountain when it comes to terrorist organizations, unfortunately, failed to show the privilege of visiting Diyarbakir mothers in Türkiye," Erdogan added.
Since Sept. 3, 2019, families whose children were allegedly abducted or forcibly recruited by the PKK have camped outside the Diyarbakir offices of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) -- a party the Turkish government said has links with the terror group, and is currently facing a closure case in the nation’s highest court.
Demonstrations have since spread to other provinces, including Van, Mus, Sirnak, and Hakkari.
"We are here at a platform where violence against women is addressed," the Turkish president said, referring to the event marking International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and said the terrorist YPG/PKK cannot go unseen as it "deceives our young girls, drags them to death in the mountains, and violates all human rights, from rape to execution."
Emphasizing that Türkiye has zero-tolerance approach to violence against women via legislative implementations, Erdogan said: "We believe that it is our duty to show the same reaction to the terrorist organization's attacks on human lives, especially women."
"Those who back this terrorist organization that kills women and children ... are partners in the brutality, bloodshed, and crimes against humanity," Erdogan added.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s terrorist branch in Syria.
The Turkish leader further hailed women's role in society and said "a society that excludes women, does injustice, and harms their dignity by committing violence means that they have given up on half of human existence. Such a situation would mean humans preparing their own end with their own hands."
"Women are the basic pillar of the family and social life, which are necessary for the existence and future of humanity," Erdogan added.
