Turkey Already Deports Hundreds of Indonesians Trying to Cross to Syria

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Ankara, 11 shawwal 1438/6 July 2017 (MINA) – Turkey has already deported 430 Indonesians for attempting to cross to Syria in the past two years, Antara News quoted Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi as saying here on Wednesday.

“From 2015 to 2017 a total of 430 Indonesians have been deported from Turkey for attempting to cross into Syria,” she said.

She made the statement following a bilateral meeting with Turkish minister of home affairs in connection with the state visit of President Joko Widodo to that country on July 6 which will be focused on developing immigration cooperation to overcome terrorism.

She said the government kept monitoring from time to time and improved cooperation that exists in the handling of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF).

In view of that President Joko Widodos state visit would be used to discuss problems related to counter-terrorism including immigration problems.

Retno said deportation was actually one of the existing issues relating to terrorism.

“So we will not focus on deportation only but other issues as well to improve our knowledge on possible networking,” she said.

She said not all who were deported were connected with radical ideologies or organizations.

“Therefore any information from Turkey will be very significant for Indonesia with regard to further study about them after they arrive in Indonesia and we have kept increasing the cooperation from time to time,” she added.  (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)