JINHA

ŞIRNEX - For nine days, the Turkish government has denied permission for the bodies of fighters who died fighting Daesh to cross the border into the country. People at the border have begun an indefinite sit-in until the bodies are returned.

For nine days, the bodies of 13 YPG, YPJ and HPG fighters who died fighting Daesh have been refused entry into Turkey on orders from President Erdoğan's cabinet. The families of the dead have been holding vigil next to the truck bearing the bodies, which is currently being held on the Iraq side of the Habur Border Gate. Meanwhile, the people of the region--determined to bring the bodies home--have been holding actions over the last nine days.

Now, the people have decided to hold an indefinite sit-in until the bodies are allowed to cross the border. The families want to bury their children in the fighters' native Northern Kurdistan (Turkey).

"The state must allow permission for people to bury their dead according to their beliefs,whatever they may be," said Feleknas Uca, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) representative for Diyarbakır, who came to greet the resistance action. She promised that the party would support the families.

(ma/fk/cm)