Turkish FTFs

DAESH/ISIS has posed a global threat because of recruiting FTFs from all over the world. Despite the fact that this terrorist group has lost significant amount of territories, it is still on the counties’ security agenda. This terrorist organization is still evolving in terms of its structure and network among terrorist fighters. In that regard, countries including Turkey should pursue policies which help prevent new recruitment of this terrorist group. 

Through individuals and social media network, they have an ability to increase their influence on targeted countries by organizing terrorist attacks. While FTFs are returning back to the origin country, the biggest problem is “returning and relocation of FTFs”. In that regard, Turkey has mainly focused on developing efficient strategies for rehabilitation of terrorist fighters and their families despite FTFs having Turkish origin is at the low level.  In their return process, Turkey has applied universal principles since the beginning of this terror threat. In other words, “either prosecute of extradite” principle has been implemented in Turkish territories. Among “the unified front” against DAESH/ISIS, Turkey has assumed the responsibility which prevent to use Turkey as a transit country. Under these circumstances, Turkey has focusing on preventing new recruitments of this terrorist groups. Particularly, the country has been successful when the small number of Turkish-origin FTFs is considered. 

Turkey has experienced certain difficulties related to DAESH/ISIS and FTFs because of its geographic position laying next to the conflict zones, on the one hand. On the other hands, it has a quite strong combat against this terrorist group. In other words, Turkey has been in a wide range of battle ranging from prevention of new recruitments of this terrorist organization to providing its border security. In that regard, Turkey which has been in a multi-sided conflict has been cooperating with other countries on the international level in order to prevent radicalization of Muslim populations. As a result of Turkey’s proximity, Turkey has also addressed its own citizens’ participation in DAESH/ISIS despite the small number of participation: “The Turkish case poses new and  equally interesting puzzles to be solved, mainly on the ground that while it is  possible to find answers in the literature to the question of why and how the  young among minority Muslims living in Europe radicalize and join extremist  organizations such as ISIS”^[1]. In that regard, Turkey’s main question is how the youths and others prefer to join this radical terrorist organization particularly DAESH/ISIS.^[2]

In the light of Hemmingsen, when we analyze the number of people joining DAESH/ISIS from Turkey, the same question cannot be asked for Turkey despite the country asked the same.^[3] The main distinction in this subject is that Turkish Islam does not adopt Islam unlike DAESH/ISIS; in other words, it has a “bottom-up” approach and prefers to focus on individuals rather than supporting “violence-now” method.^[4] In Turkey, violence has never been supported and applied in the light of religious motives. This is the main reason of why Turkish people are not really motivated to join terrorist organizations which calls for jihad. Moreover, Turkish people, 99.2% of whom reported being Muslim, embrace the modern conditions and life standards and a Sharia state which are not appropriate for disseminated ideology by DAESH/ISIS.^[5] In other words, those living in Turkey and embrace Turkey’s values do prefer to live in a liberal environment. 

According to the survey conducted in Turkey about its citizen’s opinion on DAESH/ISIS, it is asserted that “majority of the population, 93.6%, don’t sympathize with this terror organization”.^[6] Thus, it is certain that those people do not turn their face to this terrorist group which is formed in Syria and Iraq. Moreover, the Directorate of Religious Affairs, which is strong to prevent increasing number of Turkish-origin FTFs, has been criticizing the DAESH/ISIS activities and their ideology which is the main motivation of terrorist fighters’ participation.^[7] However, those Turkish FTFs and their relatives who are returnees from Syria and Iraq represent the main concern of Turkey. In that regard, disarmament- demobilization-reintegration (DDR) program has been successfully conducted by Turkey. In the light of this program, Turkey aims to contribute the security and provide the stability in the region and its own territory.  

To conclude, Turkey, as a neighbor of Iraq and Syria, has been affected by the conflicts at most. In that regard, it is the counterpart of countries which are combating against DAESH/ISIS. In this fight, it stands at the forefront. As being asserted that FTFs are the global threat of DAESH/ISIS because of the jihadist ideology. Turkey, having a Muslim-majority population, has also threatened by this terrorist groups because of its terror attacks. However, the number of Turkish-origin FTFs has not sharply increase. In other words, Turkish people do not have sympathy for this terrorist organization. Turkish Government, including the Directorate of Religious Affairs, has been fighting against FTFs and taking certain measures to prevent use of Turkey as a transit country since the terrorist group was formed.  Thus, Turkey has been in a difficult situation with certain challenges represented by FTFs. However, the country has been successfully conducted security policies and measured which are prevent the new recruitments of DAESH/ISIS and dissemination of this terrorist group’s ideology. 

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^[1] Anaz, Necati, Ömer Aslan, and Mehmet Özkan. “Turkish foreign terrorist fighters and the emergence of a new kind of radicalization.” Turkish Studies 17.4 (2016): 618-642.

^[2] Hemmingsen, Ann-Sophie. “The attractions of Jihadism.” An identity approach to three Danish terrorism cases and the gallery of characters around them (2010).

^[3] Hemmingsen, Ann-Sophie. “The attractions of Jihadism.” An identity approach to three Danish terrorism cases and the gallery of characters around them (2010).

^[4] Anaz, Necati, Ömer Aslan, and Mehmet Özkan. “Turkish foreign terrorist fighters and the emergence of a new kind of radicalization.” Turkish Studies 17.4 (2016): 618-642.

^[5] Çarkoğlu, Ali, and Binnaz Toprak. Değişen Türkiye’de Din, Toplum ve Siyaset. TESEV Press, 2006.

^[6] Daloğlu, Tulin. “Turks rumored to be joining the Islamic State.”, Al Monitor (2014). Retrieved from, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/tr/originals/2014/10/turkey-syria-isis-coalition-polls.html#ixzz6LNEfg0pW

^[7] “Erdogan: Isis Aims to Destroy All Aspects of Islamic Civilization, Culture”. 2015. Daily Sabah, March 4. Retrieved from, http://www.dailysabah.com/ diplomacy/2015/03/04/erdogan-isis-aims-to-destroy-all-aspects-of-islamic- civilization-culture