The Turkish authorities in the capital, Ankara, arrested 20 individuals on Tuesday suspected of having links to the terrorist organization “ISIS.”
A statement from the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office indicated that the arrest of these suspects is part of an investigation launched by its Terrorism Crimes Office against a group suspected of connections with the terrorist “ISIS.”
The statement added that the suspected group was active in Ankara under the name “Tawhid Magazine.”
Investigations with the suspects are currently ongoing at the Ankara Counter-Terrorism Division.
Turkey has intensified its operations against ISIS and other armed groups since early October, following a bomb explosion near government buildings at the start of the month and amid the conflict in Gaza. In a significant crackdown, Turkish authorities detained over 300 individuals suspected of having links to ISIS across 32 provinces. The majority of these arrests took place in Turkey’s three largest cities: Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. The operation was coordinated nationwide, and while the nationalities of the detainees have not been disclosed, it is part of Turkey’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism within its borders.
This crackdown is seen as particularly relevant in the lead-up to New Year’s celebrations, recalling the tragic nightclub attack in Istanbul in 2017 that resulted in 39 deaths.
In recent years, Turkey has carried out significant operations against individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State (ISIS). One of the notable operations was “Operation Heroes-37”, where at least 29 suspects were arrested for allegedly planning attacks on synagogues and churches, as well as the Iraqi Embassy in Ankara. This operation was part of a broader security drive by Turkey’s forces ahead of the New Year festivities and potentially in the context of upcoming local elections.
However, there have been concerns regarding the actual number of ISIS members incarcerated in Turkey and the effectiveness of the legal process against them. Reports suggest that many ISIS suspects have either been acquitted or had their convictions overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeals. This raises questions about the transparency and effectiveness of Turkey’s efforts in combating ISIS-related security threats
