Turkey: ruling party strikes down motion to investigate ISIS activities

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Turkey’s ruling party has rejected a parliamentary motion to investigate the militant group’s activities inside the country, a move likely to deepen allegations of Turkish support for the militant group, the Hurriyet daily reported.

The newspaper said the motion was proposed by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP)  but had been struck down by MPs of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

HDP deputy Nazmi Gur, who had forwarded the motion on Friday, said that the rejection was "a sign that the Turkish government still refrains from taking a clear position against ISIL," referring to the Sunni extremist group by its other acronym.

"This policy brings serious risks about Turkey's national security," Hurriyet reported the main opposition Republican's People Party (CHP) deputy Refik Eryılmaz as saying.

But Ramazan Can, an AKP deputy, rejected the opposition's criticism, stressing that Turkey recognizes ISIS as a terrorist organization.

Turkey stands accused of playing both side of the fence over ISIS: the NATO member is part of the multinational coalition arrayed against the extremist group that holds about a third of Iraq and Syria in its grasp.

Ankara agreed with Washington this week to allow moderate Syrian forces trained on its soil for the fight against ISIS.

On the other hand Turkey, which shares a 900-kilometer-long border with Syria, has so far been reluctant about taking a frontline role in military action against ISIS.

Turkey’s pro-Islamic government stands internationally accused of turning a blind eye to the religious zealots using its territory to fight jihads in Syria and Iraq, and for smuggling arms and supplies.

Turkish police have warned in a report that some 3,000 ISIS fighters retreating from Syria have crossed into Turkey, including leaders hiding in sleeper cells.

Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has warned that the militants could be planning attacks on foreign missions of countries involved in the war against the terror group.

The MIT has issued warnings to the police and gendarmerie about possible armed or bombing attacks on foreign missions in Ankara and Istanbul.

Hurriyet reported last month that “security measures for the consulates and assets of Western states have been raised to a maximum level.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in January that up to 700 Turkish nationals have joined ISIS, posing a security threat to Turkey when they return.

Two separate attacks in Istanbul in November 2003 that were claimed by Islamic extremists left 57 people dead and hundreds wounded.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi has urged Turkey to be “more active” in the fight against ISIS.

"We acknowledge Turkey's support to Iraq against terrorism attacks,” Nujaifi reportedly told Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in a telephone conversation on Friday. A statement from Nujaifi’s office said the vice president told Davutoglu that, “We request Turkey's role to be more active."