Turkey urges Australia to take responsibility for ISIS fighters

Turkey is moving to deport up to three captured ISIS prisoners to Australia and urged the Morrison government to accept them.

Turkey’s ambassador to Australia, Korhan Karakoc, confirmed ­efforts were under way to repatriate ‘a few’ suspected Australian ISIS prisoners. Picture: Kym Smith

Turkey is moving to deport up to three captured Islamic State prisoners to Australia and has called on the Morrison government to accept them.

Ankara this week sent up to 10 foreign citizens back to their home countries including Britain, the US and Germany as it removes ISIS combatants and their families captured in Syria. It is understood the Australians were among a group of 959 foreign ISIS fighters and family members being held by Turkey following its ­incursions into northern Syria.

Turkey’s ambassador to Australia, Korhan Karakoc, confirmed to The Weekend Australian ­efforts were under way to repatriate “a few” suspected Australian ISIS prisoners, whom he was unable to identify. But Mr Karakoc said Turkey wanted the Australian government to co-ordinate their return.

“Turkey, at this stage, is not in a position to take a unilateral step because we have to co-ordinate, at the end of the day,” he said.

“It really requires some formalities. The Australian side should be willing to accept them.

“We certainly want to send them away so you can handle them here in their country. But it would take some time.”

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Mr Karakoc said Australia also needed to provide the necessary travel documents. But he added “there is not much willingness on the Australian side” to co-ordinate their repatriation.

“So we’re expecting this to change,” he said. “There are only a few, to the best of my knowledge, and there is an ongoing process between our (government) and your authorities.”

The ambassador said he was aware of “one or two” Australian prisoners involved, but that it could now be three.

Since the defeat of the Islamic State’s so-called caliphate, the Australian government has only helped orphaned children return from the conflict zone.

The government has previously said it was too dangerous to send any Australian officials into Syria to assist in any repatriations, but it is unclear what its stand is on those being held by Turkey.

The Australian Federal Police has been collecting evidence against dozens of Australians who were captured in northern Syria — including from Yazidi women held as sex slaves — and warrants have been issued for 42 terrorist suspects.

Australian women and children at the Al-Hawl camp in northeast Syria. Picture: Supplied

Three Australians were among citizens of 36 countries being held in so-called “repatriation” centres, according to a ­report this week by Turkish daily newspaper Hurriyet.

On Thursday, British counter-terrorism officers arrested a 26-year-old at Heathrow Airport after he arrived from Turkey — about the same time Turkish authorities announced the ­deportation of a British national.

Scotland Yard said the arrest was “Syria-related”.

A US citizen and seven Germans were also reportedly ­deported by Turkey earlier in the week.

The US national had initially been “marooned” after efforts to send him to Greece failed when Greek authorities refused him entry.

“Upon the commitment of the USA to issue a travel document, necessary procedures have been initiated to send the foreign terrorist fighter to the USA,” Turkey’s interior ministry said of the case this week.

On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said more foreign nationals were to be deported.

“We have started returning Daesh members to their countries and of course there is a serious rush, things are flaring up,” Mr Erdogan said.

It is not known which Australians have come under Turkish custody. Most of the Australians currently being held in Syria are the women and children in the al-Hawl camp, well outside the reach of Turkish forces.

About 66 women and children have been trapped in the camp since the territorial defeat of ISIS in March.

But around a dozen Australian men have been held in detention centres further north.

Former Melbourne man Neil Prakash — a recruiter linked to plots in Australia — has been jailed in Turkey for being a member of Islamic State, but was stripped of his Australian citizenship late last year.

The Weekend Australian has approached Foreign Minister Marise Payne for comment.