Turkey says concerned about return of Turkish ISIL fighters

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said fewer Turkish fighters joined the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) compared to the number of Europeans, adding that Turkey also shares international concerns about the return of the fighters to their countries.

“The common concern about foreign fighters is what will happen after they return to their countries? We are also worried [about this issue],” Çavuşoğlu said on Wednesday.

According to Çavuşoğlu, there are currently around 500-700 Turkish citizens fighting for ISIL.

Çavuşoğlu also warned that Turkey is an open target for ISIL. “All countries, including Turkey, are an open target for ISIL. Turkey has always been targeted by ISIL regardless of the measures taken [against it],” the foreign minister said, reiterating that the terrorist group does not represent Islam.

Criticism has mounted over Turkey's failure to stem the flow of foreign fighters into its neighboring countries after Hayat Boumeddiene, a female suspect who is a partner of one of the attackers in recent bloody attacks in Paris, entered Syria via Turkey on Jan. 8.

Seventeen people were killed in Paris in al-Qaeda-linked attacks, including 12 people who were killed when two Islamist militants burst into Charlie Hebdo's weekly editorial meeting last Wednesday and opened fire as a purported act of revenge for the paper's past publications that included satirical images of the Prophet Muhammad.

FM criticizes France over failure to issue warrant for suspect

Echoing Turkish officials, who have repeatedly complained about the failure of French intelligence authorities to issue a warrant for Boumeddiene, Çavuşoğlu said it is not possible to know whether the suspect would join ISIL after visiting Turkey.

The foreign minister noted that Turkey informed France about the suspect's entry into Syria even before the country asked for the information.

“This shows our sensitivity about foreign fighters. Turkey has been subject to criticism [on the issue]. We have taken all necessary measures; however, there is always a way for [fighters to enter Syria] even if we deploy security guards along the 911-kilometer-long border with the country,” Çavuşoğlu added.

Çavuşoğlu said Turkey has deported 1,165 people so far and has banned 7,250 people from entering the country.

“How can I know if the suspect came to Turkey for the purpose of joining ISIL? If such information is available, why didn't the French authorities stop her before she left the country?” asked the foreign minister.

In the meantime, 28-year-old Fritz Joly Joachim, who is reportedly a friend of one of the Paris attackers, was jailed by Bulgaria as he attempted to cross into Turkey.

According to reports, Joachim was planning to meet with Boumeddiene in İstanbul. During a recent court hearing in Bulgaria, Joachim denied any connection to the terrorist attacks and demanded to be returned to French authorities.

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