Turkey ready to repatriate its nationals held in Iraq on ISIS charges

BAGHDAD — Turkey has expressed readiness to repatriate its nationals held in Iraqi prisons on Islamic State charges, following a meeting Thursday between National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji and Turkish Ambassador to Baghdad Anıl Bora İnan.

İnan affirmed “his government’s readiness to withdraw its nationals from prisons” and praised Iraq’s diplomatic role in supporting regional security, according to al-Araji’s office.

Al-Araji called on countries to “assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities by withdrawing their nationals from among the prisoners who were recently handed over to Iraq,” stressing the need for international cooperation to confront terrorist threats.

The two sides also discussed strengthening bilateral ties and activating memorandums of understanding between Baghdad and Ankara, with al-Araji praising the level of Iraqi-Turkish cooperation.

Turkey’s readiness follows Iraq’s Justice Ministry statement earlier this week that Turkish nationals will be tried under Iraqi law before a possible transfer to Turkey under a 1990s bilateral agreement — except those sentenced to death, whose sentences would be carried out in Iraq. All detainees previously held in Syria have now been transferred to Iraq, bringing the total to 5,704 representing 61 nationalities, with the international coalition covering food costs.

Earlier this week, al-Araji made a similar repatriation call when he met German State Secretary Dr. Géza Andreas von Geyr. Russia also expressed readiness this week to retrieve its nationals after a formal Iraqi request.