Turkey Deported 21 ISIS Terrorists Since November 11

World

December 3rd, 8:15am

Ankara - Saeed Abdul Razek

Men, who the Democratic Forces of Syria fighters claim are ISIS fighters, walk as they are taken prisoners. (Reuters)

Turkish authorities announced they have sent 21 ISIS terrorists back to their countries since Ankara began its deportation operations on November 11. The number of foreign terrorists in Turkish deportation centers dropped to 938, announced a source at the Turkish Interior Ministry. Thirteen of the deported terrorists were German, Belgians, Dutch, Danish, British, American and Irish nationals. The Ministry stressed in a statement that deportations will continue. On Friday, it announced the deportation of two Belgian ISIS sisters. Fatima Ben Meziane, 24, fled the Ain Issa camp in October during the Turkish military operation against Kurdish factions in northeastern Syria last month. Meziane managed to enter Turkish territory with the help of smugglers and was arrested as soon as she arrived in Kelis, on the border with Syria. Rahma Ben Meziane, her sister, 31, managed to flee the al-Hol displacement camp during the Turkish offensive. Belgian authorities announced the arrest of the two citizens upon their arrival in the capital Brussels from Turkey. Turkish authorities plan to deport 11 members of the terrorist organization to France in the next few days. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said last Thursday that his country would go ahead with the process of returning ISIS detainees to their countries, which they left over the past years to join the terrorist organization in Syria and Iraq. “Turkey is serious about migration management, because the country is serious in fighting terrorism,” he said. The Minister noted that by the end of this year, Turkey would have deported all ISIS militants detained in its centers. He indicated that the number depends on the duration of the process, but asserted that the operation is ongoing for Europe. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last month that more than 1,150 ISIS terrorists were detained in Turkey's prisons. Turkish forces, and other Syrian factions affiliated with it, are also holding 287 ISIS militants who fled during Turkey's Peace Spring in northeastern Syria.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2018831/turkey-deported-21-isis-terrorists-november-11