Turkey agrees to repatriate its ISIS-linked nationals from Iraq
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein announced on Monday that the Turkish government has agreed to receive its nationals affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) from Iraq.
According to a statement issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Hussein made the remarks during a meeting in Baghdad with U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack and his accompanying delegation.
The statement welcomed Turkey’s approval to repatriate Turkish nationals who were members of ISIS, describing the move as a positive step toward addressing the issue of foreign detainees.
It added that Barrack expressed appreciation for what he described as an important measure taken by the Iraqi government in transferring ISIS members from detention centers abroad to prisons inside Iraq, as part of efforts to strengthen Iraq’s sovereignty and assume its legal responsibilities.
The ministry noted that Iraq continues to coordinate with several countries to facilitate the repatriation of their citizens involved in terrorism-related cases to their home countries.
It further stated that more than 23,000 Iraqi nationals have so far been repatriated in an organized and secure manner from Hawl Camp in northeastern Syria.
Iraq has repeatedly called on foreign governments to take back their citizens detained on terrorism charges, warning that prolonged delays pose security and humanitarian challenges.