kayhan.ir

News ID: 72581
Publish Date : 11 November 2019 - 21:29

Turkey Starts Repatriating Daesh Foreign Terrorists




ANKARA (Dispatches) – Turkey says it has begun sending back foreign terrorists to their countries of origin, with an American already expelled and more than 20 Europeans in the process of deportation.
A "foreign terrorist fighter" from the U.S. was deported early on Monday, with two more -- from Germany and Denmark -- due to be expelled later in the day, interior ministry spokesman Ismail Catakli told state news agency Anadolu.
Seven more Germans were due for deportation on Thursday, he added, while 11 French citizens, two Irish and at least two additional Germans were also being processed.
Turkey has criticized Western countries for refusing to repatriate their citizens who left to join the Daesh terrorist group in Syria and Iraq, and stripping some of them of their citizenship.
Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said last week that Turkey had nearly 1,200 foreign members of Daesh in custody, and had captured 287 during its recent operation in northern Syria.
It was not clear if all those being deported this week were captured in Syria, or in Turkish territory.
"There is no need to try to escape from it, we will send them back to you. Deal with them how you want," Soylu said on Friday.
Turkey has frequently sent back captured terrorists in recent years, but has lately increased pressure on Europe to take responsibility for the problem.
It follows its offensive last month in northern Syria against Kurdish militants who were holding thousands of Daesh terrorists and their families.
Turkey said it would take control of captured terrorists in areas that it seized from Kurdish groups, but demanded greater assistance from Europe.
It remains unclear, however, whether Turkey will be able to repatriate those who have lost their citizenship.