QA-62, 12 October 2019, Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hami Aksoy, in Response to a Question Regarding the Fate of DEASH Detainees and Their Families within the scope of Operation Peace Spring

We are closely following the attempts to cast shadow on Turkey’s efforts to establish a safe zone by clearing the northeast of Syria of terrorists within the context of Operation Peace Spring.

As President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated in his last phone conversation with US President Trump, we will take over the custody of DEASH elements and their family members being held in detention facilities and camps in areas to be freed from terror by Operation Peace Spring.

Turkey will make efforts to keep DEASH members and their families whose custody it will take over, at this stage, in areas freed from terror within Syria.

We are ready to work together with the countries of origin and international organizations for the rehabilitation of spouses and children who have not been involved in crimes committed by foreign terrorist fighters affiliated with DEASH.

On the other hand, it should be acknowledged that the sustainable solution to this issue is repatriation, prosecution and rehabilitation by countries of origin of all foreign terrorist fighters and their families detained in Syria. We attach utmost importance to the joint efforts of the international community in this regard. Turkey will continue to support in every possible way the international community’s efforts to this end.