56 people in the last 2 years! Citizenship and residence permits granted to terrorist organization members
The recent increase in terrorist incidents in Turkey has raised the question, 'Have dormant terror cells been reactivated?' It has also been noted that recent terrorist attacks were carried out by foreign nationals.
Ercan Küçük
Ercan KÜÇÜK - 12punto.com.tr
Turkey has experienced painful days due to terrorist attacks carried out over the last 2 years. 8 people lost their lives in these attacks. The use of foreign nationals in these attacks has drawn attention.
This tactic used by terrorist organizations has also entered the agenda of counter-terrorism efforts. According to data published in the Official Gazette, the prevalence of foreigners who arrived in Turkey later among those whose assets were frozen for their involvement in financing the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations over the last 2 years is noteworthy.
In the last 2 years in Turkey, terrorist organizations have carried out attacks on Istanbul Taksim, the Santa Maria Church, and the Çağlayan Courthouse. 8 people lost their lives in these attacks. It was noted that in 2 of the 3 attacks (Taksim and Santa Maria Church), the terrorists were of foreign origin. The Taksim attack was carried out by Syrian national Ahlam Albashır. 34 suspects, including Amirjon Kholikov and David Tanduev, were detained in connection with the attack on the Santa Maria Church. Among those detained were individuals of Uyghur origin who had been granted citizenship.
41 GRANTED RESIDENCE, 15 GRANTED CITIZENSHIP
One of the items included in the Official Gazette published on February 14 was the seizure of assets of individuals involved in the financing of terrorism. According to the figures in the Official Gazette, the assets of 86 people were seized in 8 issues published over the last 2 years for providing financing to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations. Only 30 of these 86 people are Turkish citizens by birth. Of the remaining 56 people, 41 hold registered residence in Turkey, and 15 have been granted Republic of Turkey citizenship.
The data on those whose assets were seized in the last 2 years for providing financing to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations are as follows:
February 14, 2024:
The asset freezing decision signed by Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya and Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek included 6 people linked to the ISIS terrorist organization. 5 of these 6 people are of Syrian origin (Raqqa, Idlib, Hasakah, Raqqa, Latakia). 3 of these 5 people are citizens of the Republic of Turkey, while 2 do not yet have citizenship but hold residence permits. It is noteworthy that all 5 names also hold Tax Identification numbers.
May 9, 2023:
In the asset freezing decision signed by Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati, the assets of 8 Republic of Turkey citizens were seized for being linked to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations.
May 2, 2023:
In the asset freezing decision signed by Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati, the assets of 2 people, 1 of whom is a Turkish citizen of Syrian origin, were seized for being linked to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations.
April 4, 2023:
In the asset freezing decision signed by Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati, the assets of 6 people were seized for being linked to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations. While 2 of these 6 people had citizenship, 3 did not yet have citizenship but held residence permits, and 1 person was found to have a Tax Identification Number record.
January 5, 2023:
In the asset freezing decision signed by Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati, the assets of 5 people were seized for being linked to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations. It was observed that 4 of the 5 people did not yet have citizenship but held residence permits.
December 1, 2022:
In the asset freezing decision signed by Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati, the assets of 17 people were seized for being linked to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations. It was observed that 4 of the 17 people, 16 of whom were of Syrian origin, had citizenship, and 10 did not yet have citizenship but held residence permits.
June 23, 2022:
In the asset freezing decision signed by Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati, the assets of 27 people were seized for being linked to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations. It was observed that while 9 of the 27 people had citizenship, 15 did not yet have citizenship but held residence permits.
March 9, 2022:
In the asset freezing decision signed by Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu and Minister of Treasury and Finance Nureddin Nebati, the assets of 13 people were seized for being linked to the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations. 8 of the 13 people are Turkish citizens, including 4 who were granted citizenship later. It is observed that 4 of the remaining 5 people hold residence permits.