Alert over Turkey deportations

With ‘jihadist’ stranded, Athens concerned that Ankara might try to expel IS suspects through Greece

Greek security authorities and intelligence services are on high alert due to concerns that Turkey may try to deport European citizens suspected of being involved in Islamist terrorist networks through Greece.

These concerns were fueled after Turkey’s recent attempt to send a US citizen, Muhammad Darwish Bassam, who according to initial intelligence reports has connections to Islamist terrorists, into Greece though the Kastanies customs station in Evros, northeastern Greece.

In light of this case, Greek officials have indicated that they expect the imminent attempted expulsion from Turkey in the coming days or hours to Greece of nine Germans suspected of having links to the Islamic State terrrorist group.

Greek concerns have been heightened by the possibility that – in this case – German authorities may revoke the citizenship of the suspects, which means there is a danger they will be trapped in Greece.

An indication of these misgivings regarding the deportations from Turkey of European jihadists – not only among Greek but also European authorities – is the statement by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who called on Ankara to provide immediately credible and legally valid information about the people they plan to deport.

Bassam, who is a Jordanian American, was arrested in Turkey for “exceeding his eligibility days” (the visa granted by Turkey had expired) and Ankara tried expel him on Monday morning through the customs office in Kastanies.

At the same time, the Turkish media was flooded with reports that described him as a jihadist suspect. He allegedly asked not to be deported to the US but to a European Union member-state. National and international databases were searched but nothing incriminating against him was found. Nonetheless, there are indications that his brother is involved with Islamist terror networks. Until yesterday, Bassam remained in the buffer zone between Greece and Turkey while according to Turkish media reports he was allowed to sleep in a car and was provided with food.

Speaking to Kathimerini, Greek officials have made clear that he will not be allowed to enter the country. However, they noted that diplomatic discussions are under way to resolve the problem, which they said was created by Turkey to ramp up pressure on Greece.