Turkey begins deporting foreign jihadistsTurkey captured many IS fighters in recent operations in SyriaISTANBUL - Turkey said Monday it had begun sending back foreign jihadists to their countries of origin, with an American already expelled and more than 20 Europeans in the process of deportation. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said last week that Turkey had nearly 1,200 foreign members of IS 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. Turkey has frequently sent back captured jihadists in recent years, but has lately increased pressure on Europe to take responsibility for the problem. Turkey said it would take control of captured jihadists in areas that it seized from Kurdish groups, but demanded greater assistance from Europe.

Source: Bangkok Post November 11, 2019 10:47 UTC