Kurdish party accuses Türkiye of sponsoring terrorism

A Kurdish party leader accused Türkiye of supporting rebel groups that splintered from al-Qaeda, supplying the extremists with weapons and ammunition.

Murat Karayilan, acting leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Photo: Reuters.

There is documentation that proves Türkiye supports terrorist groups, Murat Karayilan, co-founder of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), said in an interview with RIA Novosti in the Quadil Mountains, Iraq. He said the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has "ideological affinity" and common interests with the Islamist extremist groups.

"Along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Türkiye has funded rebels (in Syria) that splintered from al-Qaeda... These countries support and arm many radical Salafi groups that operate based on Islamic law," he said.

According to Karayilan, Ankara believes that if the three million Kurds in Syria establish an autonomous region, the 20 million Kurds in Türkiye will immediately do the same.

To prevent such a scenario, the AKP will do everything possible, including "inciting Ahrar ash-Sham and Nusra Front rebels to attack Kurdish-inhabited areas in Syria," he said.

Karayilan is 100% sure that Türkiye still maintains contact with IS. He shares the same view as the Russian Defense Ministry, accusing Ankara of having a "mutually beneficial" relationship with the rebel group.

Türkiye has not commented on the above allegations.

Mr Karayilan is currently the acting leader of the PKK. The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Türkiye and the US after its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, was captured in 1999.

According to VNE