German intelligence refers to PKK, PYD as ‘sister’ groups

BERLIN - Anadolu Agency

A new report of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has described the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its Syrian affiliates, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG) as “sister organizations.”

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution (LfV) in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein gave new details about the activities of PYD/PKK/YPG in Germany in its annual report published on the government’s website.

The PKK and its affiliates are still active across the country with nearly 14,500 followers among the Kurdish immigrant community, using German soil for propaganda, fund-raising and logistics support, the report said.

The German domestic intelligence agency highlighted that the PYD is closely attached to the PKK in northern Germany.

Earlier this year, Germany’s federal domestic intelligence agency (BfV) warned about growing PKK activity and violence in the country and also described the PYD as the PKK’s “sister organization.”

The PKK has been banned in Germany since 1993 but the German government has not yet taken any legal action to outlaw the PYD.

Turkey has long claimed the German authorities are not taking serious measures against the terrorist group and are tolerating their propaganda activities.

In January this year, Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” along with elements of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to clear the northern Syrian district of Afrin of the YPG.