In January, a deputy from Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) submitted an intriguing parliamentary question to the interior minister. Ali Ozgunduz wanted to know whether militants from Syria and Iraq were being trained in Turkey to be used in crackdowns on anti-government protest movements.
The written question, shown to Al-Monitor, began with the following introduction: “At a time when Turkey is already the subject of international debate … for [allegedly] providing weapons, logistical support and training to radical elements in the Middle East, among them the Islamic State [IS], allegations are being made through various platforms that certain militants have been brought to Turkey as well. Allegedly, those people are being given military training with the purpose of thwarting popular opposition movements like the Gezi Park resistance and violently suppressing such protests. The media have recently reported that Jamal Maarouf, a Free Syrian Army [FSA] leader who fought in Aleppo and had the complete support of the [Turkish] government, has crossed into Turkey together with most of his 14,000 armed elements. This lends credibility to the allegations.”
The former lawmaker then posed the following questions:
- Is it true that civilian and armed elements, who came or were brought in from Iraq and Syria, are to be used against popular opposition movements such as the Gezi Park resistance, apart from the police and the Turkish Armed Forces?
- The international media have reported that radical elements, especially those fighting in Syria, are being trained in Turkey and have even published photographs and videos of bomb-making sites and military training camps. If the abovementioned allegations are true, are these camps the places where the people brought in to Turkey will also be trained?
- Is the Interior Ministry planning to make any statement on the issue?
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Ozgunduz said he was still awaiting a response to his questions, although under procedural rules they were supposed to have been answered within 15 days of their submission.
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