Turkey responds to EU sanctions over Cyprus with threats to send ISIS prisoners to Europe
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned European nations yesterday that his country could release ISIS prisoners and send them back to Europe in response to EU sanctions over Cyprus.
Before his visit to the United States, Mr Erdogan also said Turkey would continue repatriating foreign ISIS militants to their home countries, even if they decline to take them back.
His comments were in response to the EU’s unveiling on Monday of a system for imposing sanctions on Turkey over its unauthorised gas drilling in Mediterranean waters off Cyprus.
Mr Erdogan told EU countries: “You should revise your stance towards Turkey, which holds so many [ISIS] members in prison and controls them in Syria.”
It came a day after Ankara deported citizens of the United States and Denmark who fought for ISIS and made plans to expel other foreign citizensto their home countries.
Last week, Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said Turkey was not a hotel for ISIS fighters and criticised western nations for their reluctance to take back citizens who had joined the extremist group as it sought to establish a caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
Mr Soylu said last week that about 1,200 foreign ISIS fighters were in Turkish prisons and 287 members, including women and children, were recaptured during Turkey’s offensive in Syria.
Several European countries, including Britain, have stripped ISIS fighters of their citizenship to prevent their return.
Mr Erdogan criticised the EU’s decision and said Turkey was acting in accordance with its rights based on international law.
“Hey EU, know this: Turkey is not one of those countries you have come to know until now. We are a country that sits at the negotiating table with you …” Mr Erdogan said. “These negotiations may suddenly end.”
The EU relies on Turkey, which is home to more than 3.5 million refugees, to curb the arrival of migrants into Europe after a 2016 agreement to seal off the Aegean Sea route. Mr Erdogan has repeatedly said that Turkey will allow refugees to travel to Europe unless it receives aid from European countries.
“You may take this lightly, but these doors [to Europe] will open and these Daesh members will be sent to you. Do not try to threaten Turkey over developments in Cyprus,” Mr Erdogan said yesterday.
The island of Cyprus was divided in 1974 after a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup. Since then, several peacemaking efforts have failed and the discovery of offshore resources has complicated the negotiations.
EU ties with Nato ally Turkey have meanwhile worsened after years of stalemate on Ankara’s accession attempt. With a worsening record on human rights in the aftermath of a failed coup in 2016, many EU states say Turkey does not meet democratic criteria to join the bloc.
The decision to impose economic sanctions on Ankara comes after a separate move last month to stop arms sales to Turkey over its offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia in north-east Syria. Turkey’s western allies said the offensive could hinder the fight against ISIS, but Turkey has rejected the claims.
On Monday, Turkey said it had begun deporting ISIS members it had captured, starting a programme to repatriate the detainees that has further strained ties with its European Nato allies.
“Whether they accept them or not, we will continue to send them back,” Mr Erdogan said yesterday, referring to ISIS detainees.
The EU relies on Turkey, which is home to more than 3.5 million refugees, to curb the arrival of migrants into Europe