Turkey deports 2 Belarus nationals over terror links

ANKARA

Turkey has deported two terrorists of Belarusian nationality to their home country, the Interior Ministry said Thursday.

The terrorists were deported as part of Turkey's ramped-up efforts to repatriate foreign terrorist fighters, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also noted that the total number of foreign terrorists deported back to their countries since Nov. 11 last year has reached 195.

The issue of the handling of Daesh/ISIS members and their families detained in Syria -- including foreign members of the terror group -- has been controversial, with Turkey arguing foreign-born terrorists should be returned to their countries of origin.

Ankara has said several European countries resisted its efforts to send Daesh/ISIS members back to their countries, but that it will nevertheless press forward.

Turkey has so far deported 7,500 Daesh/ISIS members, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said early December, adding that there are currently 1,149 Daesh/ISIS terrorists in Turkish prisons.

ANKARA

Turkey has deported two terrorists of Belarusian nationality to their home country, the Interior Ministry said Thursday.

The terrorists were deported as part of Turkey's ramped-up efforts to repatriate foreign terrorist fighters, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also noted that the total number of foreign terrorists deported back to their countries since Nov. 11 last year has reached 195.

Ankara has said several European countries resisted its efforts to send Daesh/ISIS members back to their countries, but that it will nevertheless press forward.

Turkey has so far deported 7,500 Daesh/ISIS members, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said early December, adding that there are currently 1,149 Daesh/ISIS terrorists in Turkish prisons.