While the operation against the Garé district of Iraq Federated Kurdistan Disrict continues, HPG made a written statement on the second day of the operation and told that the camp where they hold some soldiers captive was hit by warplanes. While the HPG said they will share details later, the statement scared the families of the MİT members, soldiers and police officers held in the camp by the PKK.

 

Gürsel Özbey, father of Semih Özbey and Musa Gıcır, father of Ümit Gıcır expressed their concern for the safety of their sons.

 

ÖZBEY: WE HAVE PEOPLE OVER THERE

 

Stating that his son Semih Özbey has been detained in the camp since September 18, 2015, Gürsel Özbey said: "We are directly effected by any attack carried out against that camp. Our children are being held there. Of course we are sad. We have people over there."

 

'OF COURSE I AM AGAINST THE OPERATION'

 

Underlining that the government has an obligation to do all that it can to get their children back, Özbey said: "They did not go there willingly, they were taken there. The constitution says the state has to protect the lives and the property of its citizens. The state did not do that. They have taken away our children. These are innocent children, what do they want from them? Of course I am against these operations. I will hold those who hurt my son to account."

 

'SOMEONE MUST HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS'

 

Addressing the PKK, Özbey said: "If they have an account to settle with the state, they should hold the state to account and release our children. We haven't been able to breathe for the last 6 years. We forgot how to live. Think about a family who lost their children. Thinking if they are safe, what they are doing.. We don't know. Someone must have an explanation for us. They have broadcasted a video 4 years ago. We haven't seen them or heard from them since then."

 

'STOP THE OPERATION'

 

Underlining that they want to reunite with their son as soon as possible, Özbey said: "Release them as soon as possible. Let them reunite with their families. Isn't it our most natural right to know if they're alive? According to the Geneva Convention, the state has to ensure their safety and get them back to their families. This is what I want. And if the government is carrying out an operation in places where our children are being held, I want those operations to end now. As a father.."

 

GICIR: OUR HANDS ARE TIED

 

Stating that they are very concerned about the operation, Musa Gıcır said: "Our hands are tied. Who would listen to us, what can we say to whom.. The organization has my son for 53 months now. We don't know why they won't release him. We want to reunite with our son as soon as possible. We can not sleep, we can not function. Everyone works somewhere. My son worked as a soldier. He was bringing bread to his home. He was a labourer. They took him away. I want to address the organization, please make us families happy somehow."

 

'HOW CAN A GOVERNMENT BOMB A PLACE IT HAS SOLDIERS IN?'

 

Stating that his son Ümit Gıcır sent them a letter in 2019 and they didn't recieve any other news from him, Gıcır said: "And there is no video footage. We are concerned. We are waiting. We can't do anything else. Please don't make the families suffer. How can a government bomb a place where it has soldiers in? It wouldn't.. At least according to me. But I don't know."

 

MA / Zemo Ağgöz