In a troubling development, a 15-year-old Kurdish schoolgirl named Silav Othman Khalo has been abducted by an organization linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the outskirts of Afrin, northern Syria. Reports indicate that the abduction was carried out by the so-called "Revolutionary Youth" group with the intention of forcibly enlisting her into the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), a military arm associated with the PKK.

Mustafa Sheikho, a prominent Kurdish media activist, disclosed the details of this distressing incident. According to Sheikho, Silav Othman Khalo was taken from her village of Aqiba in Afrin's countryside and transported to PKK camps, where she was to be coerced into joining the YPJ.

The Khalo family originally hails from the village of Meydanki in the Sheran district but had relocated to Aqiba in 2018. Aqiba is situated in an area under the control of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), Syrian regime forces, and Iranian militias.

This abduction has renewed concerns over the persistent recruitment of minors by the PKK-affiliated "Revolutionary Youth" group. The PKK's recruitment tactics often target vulnerable children, exploiting social vulnerabilities to entice them into joining their armed forces.

The PKK's practice of recruiting hundreds of children aged between 11 and 16 has drawn widespread condemnation. Observers have denounced these actions as grave crimes, highlighting the infringement upon Kurdish children's rights to education and a safe upbringing free from violence.

The international community has expressed outrage over the PKK's recruitment methods, which blatantly disregard Kurdish values and violate international laws. This incident underscores the urgent need to protect vulnerable children from exploitation and ensure their safety and well-being.