BBC defends report on PKK after criticism from Ankara

LONDON

A funeral ceremony for Private Recep Beycur, who was killed by PKK militants in the Siirt province, was held in Aug. 20 at a military headquarters in the Erzurum Airport. Ahmet Okatalı - Anadolu Ajansı

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has defended its report on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), stating it was only one of the many reports it did on Turkey.

"We cover news of global interest impartially and this film is one of many we have broadcast on Turkey and related issues, including extensive coverage of attacks perpetrated by the PKK," a BBC spokesperson told Anadolu Agency in a written statement.
      
"This report offers a unique insight into understanding what motivated these women to join the PKK to fight the so-called Islamic State, including some who had escaped the IS, and makes it clear that the PKK is considered a terrorist organization by the Turkish government," the spokesperson added.
 
On Thursday, the British broadcaster in its report featured interviews with PKK members. In the story, BBC also said: "The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by the Turkish authorities and several Western states, but it is now a key player in the battle against the jihadist group Islamic State."
      
The BBC statement comes after Turkey's Foreign Ministry condemned the broadcaster for publishing the report, describing it as a "clear support to terrorism".
      
"Publishing in this way about an organization, which is named as a terrorist group by many countries, particularly EU countries, was a clear support to terrorism," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.
      
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.