Thread: Turkey Deports Britons Intercepted at Border With Syria

Turkish authorities say they have deported nine Britons who were arrested in southern Turkey April 1 while trying to enter neighboring Syria illegally to join militant groups.

Their case drew international media attention after it emerged the group included four children, one just a year old, and the son of a British politician.

The mid-week announcement of the deportation of 21-year-old Waheed Ahmed and eight other British nationals is being hailed by Turkish officials as an example of their vigilance and determination to stop the flow of foreign recruits to the self-styled Islamic State and other jihadist groups in Syria.

Turkey has been criticized repeatedly by its Western allies for not doing enough to intercept European nationals seeking to join jihadists in Syria - and even of aiding such groups by allowing arms supplies to reach them.

In recent weeks, however, Ankara has been showcasing its efforts to control its border with Syria, inviting international camera crews into detention centers at Istanbul’s airports to show how they weed out travelers suspected of planning to join jihadist groups, including al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, in Syria.

Last week, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told foreign diplomats that his country has imposed travel bans on more than 12,500 foreigners suspected of wanting to join jihadist groups and deported another 1,200 who managed to enter Turkey. He told Western diplomats also that European Union countries need to do more to stop foreign recruits from leaving their own countries.

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Originally Posted by misskit

He told Western diplomats also that European Union countries need to do more to stop foreign recruits from leaving their own countries.

That sounds reasonable.

Why not just close the border?