PKK terror group 'worst thing to befall' region: Erdoğan

Turkey's president on July 9 slammed the PKK terror group and People's Democratic Party (HDP), called them "exploiters" and the "worst thing to befall to region and Kurdish people in 1,000 years."

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of an irrigation system and 30 factories in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: "The PKK have killed or abducted over 50,000 people in the past 40 years. They have the blood of our brothers and sisters on their hands," Erdoğan said.

Erdoğan asserted that the PKK and its associated terrorist organizations were guilty of "crimes against humanity" for abducting 13-14 year-old girls to the region's mountains and abusing children.

"The PKK is the top slayer of Kurdish lives. The PKK is the reason why villages are evacuated or burned down," he said.

He also accused the HDP of supporting terrorists while also "talking about peace, democracy, and brotherhood without feeling any embarrassment."

Erdoğan said: "In which democracy does an elected member of parliament, or an elected mayor or party leadership, go and report to terror group members? In which democracy are funds sent by the state for investments and services used to lay mines on the roads?"

"Every attempt against a country (by the PKK) is supported by politicians. They aren't real supporters of democracy. They are enemies and abusers of democracy," he added.

Erdoğan underlined that the PKK and HDP's "hidden agenda and ill intentions" ended a peace process that lasted from 2013 until 2015.

He also announced that Diyarbakır Prison, "which has been long associated with cruelty, torture, and inhumane acts," would be turned into a cultural center.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign...