• Tweeter
  • republish

The entrance to Camp Roj, in northeastern Syria, where families of jihadists gather. GIHAD DARWISH / AFP

Ankara began on Monday to return foreign members of the Islamic State group to their country of origin. An American citizen detained in the country was fired this morning and others should follow. This is particularly the case of eleven French arrested in Syria.

With our correspondent in Istanbul , Anne Andlauer

Turkey puts its threats into action. In addition to this American citizen presented as a " foreign terrorist fighter ", the Turkish Ministry of Interior announced the imminent dismissal of a German national and another Danish. All three were detained in a so-called " referral " center, which meant they were destined to be repatriated.

This is also the case of seven other Germans that Turkey plans to return Thursday, November 14. The authorities do not specify whether these referrals take place under agreements with countries of origin , as is in principle the case. By the end of October, Turkey had announced that it had detained 813 foreigners suspected of links to terrorism in 12 referral centers spread over its territory.

Arrested in Syria

Ankara also announced the upcoming return of foreigners arrested this time in Syria. The Turkish Ministry of the Interior cites the case of two Irishmen, two Germans and eleven Frenchmen for whom proceedings are in progress.

These cases are more problematic because most European states refuse to repatriate their citizens who have joined the ranks of the Islamic State group in Syria. Contacted by RFI, officials of the Ministry of the Interior refuse for the moment to say more about the identity of these people, the conditions of their arrest and especially the procedure envisaged for their removal.

► See also: Syria: the Turkish offensive reopens the debate on the fate of the French jihadists