ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on Thursday paid a unique visit to the families of the 2011 Roboski massacre in the Kurdish province of Sirnak. Tens of innocent Kurds were killed in the mass killing which was carried out by the Turkish army. “I came here to promise to shed light on this case,” Kilicdaroglu told the families of 34 Kurds, mostly children, who were killed by Turkish jets on December 28, 2011. The victims were smuggling cheap petrol and cigarettes from the town of Zakho, accos the border in the Kurdistan Region. “There must be justice, the case must be clarified. The dead will not come back… but somehow the pain of mothers needs to be relieved. Mothers are still living with the pain of their children and they want justice from us,” added the opposition leader. Kilicdaroglu was warmly welcomed by some of the families of the victims. Roboski is located in the Kurdish province of Sirnak in southeast Turkey (Bakur). The area had been the focal point of clashes between the Turkish Army and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – a Kurdish armed group struggling for increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. Strong security measures were taken by the security forces for Kilicdaroglu’s unique trip. The Turkish government and army have not apologised for the massacre but offered financial compensation which has been rejected by most of the families. Kilicdaroglu, who seeks the support of Kurdish voters, has promised to resolve the Kurdish issue as well.
Turkey21-05-2026Suspension of main opposition leadership targets Turkey-PKK peace process: Mediating party
