Interior Ministry: Turkey Begins Repatriating ISIS Members to Europe, US

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Turkey has repatriated one ISIS member from the US and this week will deport several more members back to Germany, the Ministry of Interior announced today (November 11).

"A US citizen ISIS terrorist has been repatriated after the completion of legal procedures," İsmail Çataklı, the spokesperson of the ministry, told the state-run Anadolu Agency.

Seven ISIS members from Germany will also be deported on November 14, he added saying that "Turkey will extradite them no matter what."

He further said, "Again, a deportation process was carried out for a foreign terrorist fighter of German nationality in the Removal Center, and a Danish citizen will be sent to their country during the day by means of a judicial process.

"Therefore, the exits of three foreign terrorist fighters will be provided today. In addition, seven foreign terrorist fighters of German nationality in the removal centers have been scheduled to travel and will be deported on November 14th."

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu announced Saturday (November 9) that the repatriations will begin today.

Greece denied extradited ISIS member

An ISIS member detained in northern Syria was extradited today at Pazarkule Border Crossing with Greece in Edirne province. However, officers from Greece denied the entry of the militant, who reportedly began to wait in the buffer zone between the two countries.

The issue of the handling of ISIS members and their families detained in Syria has been controversial, with Turkey arguing foreign-born members should be repatriated to their countries of origin.

Ankara has said that it will send ISIS members back to their countries, but several European countries have refused, saying the members were denationalized.

Turkey has so far deported 7,500 ISIS members, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said last week, adding that there are currently 1,149 ISIS members in prisons in Turkey. (HA/VK)