Turkey says Germany, Netherlands agree to take back IS members

Source: Xinhua| 2019-11-14 03:13:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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ANKARA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to accept the Islamic State (IS) members of their nationality detained by Turkey, the Turkish interior minister said Wednesday.

"As of last night, the two countries have confirmed that they will take back IS terrorists who are citizens of their countries and their wives, children and all the others including those prisoned in Jarablus and Azaz (in Syria)," Suleyman Soylu said in the southeastern province of Van.

Turkey deports the IS members regardless of their original nationality, the minister added.

Turkish security forces captured an "important" IS figure in Syria, the Soylu said, adding the suspect is still being interrogated.

His comments come as Turkey started a campaign to send IS members back to their own countries this week.

Turkey has repeatedly criticized European states for refusing to take back any of the 1,200 foreign IS suspects captured by Turkey.

On Monday, Ankara deported three IS fighters, an American, an German and a Dane, while the Turkish interior ministry said seven more Germans would be deported on Thursday while 11 French, two Irish and at least two additional German nationals were being processed.

France will take back 11 suspected IS members from Turkey, the country's Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said Tuesday.

The German foreign ministry spokesman Christofer Burger said earlier that the list of deportation includes three men, five women and two children.

It is worth noting that Denmark, Germany and Britain have revoked the citizenship of some IS fighters and their family members.

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