Is ISIL a Threat for Turkey?

By Günay Hilal Aygün

June 26, 2014

Terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have overrun Mosul and other parts of Iraq. In recent weeks, they have wrested control of many cities in that country. They have devastated towns and brutally murdered hundreds of men and women as they further their advance. Now that ISIL has seized several towns that share borders with Turkey, columnists have been arguing whether Turkey could be the group's next target.

Habertürk's Yavuz Semerci wrote about the relentless violence of ISIL militants. “I watched a video last night,” he wrote. “I couldn't sleep. It was filmed by ISIL. The 30-minute footage was spine chilling. The fact that Turkish subtitles were provided indicated that they wanted it to be watched in Turkey. Wars are always disasters. Civil wars are relentless. But executing people this easily, with only brief questioning, leaves one gasping for air.” He noted, “I couldn't sleep. I was thankful to live in Turkey.” He said the video featured the decapitation of an Iraqi military officer and the execution of a son and his father who were first forced to dig their own graves. Even those who surrender to the militants are executed on the spot. He said the violence is caused by those who failed to establish a democracy after dictatorships and oppressive regimes. “I certainly don't expect this fire to spread to Turkey. But I am still scared. I understand the importance of having a strong military force once again. ... I am even ready to love the thieves in this country. I am ready to forgive those who steal rather than surrender to these primitive characters.”

İhsan Bal from the same newspaper noted that ISIL militants were filmed vowing to “take İstanbul after conquering Syria.” He asked, “Should we take this claim seriously?” In response to this question, Bal said government authorities say ISIL is currently not engaging in any activity that is targeting Turkey and that our security forces are carrying out the necessary assessments. However, Bal noted, one can't be too sure if one monitors developments closely. The Turkmens in Iraq, protégés of Turkey, are being targeted by ISIL, and nearly 100 Turkish citizens have been taken hostage by ISIL. “Certainly Turkey is not facing a threat of permanent occupation as in Syria and Iraq, but it is not a far-fetched possibility for Turkey to become a target of assaults that will cause headaches.” He recalled that Turkey has been targeted by similar organizations before, noting that the November 2003 attacks by l-Qaeda in İstanbul are the bloodiest and most shocking acts of terror the country has seen to date. On March 20, ISIL militants killed three Turkish citizens along the Niğde-Adana highway. Add to this the possibility of ISIL having cells within Turkey's borders, and the dimensions of the danger become more conspicuous.

Cumhuriyet's Zeynep Oral noted that ISIL was reported to have opened a stand to collect donations in Istanbul’s Fatih district. She also noted another indirect danger at home, recalling the recent gag order on news surrounding ISIL activities in Mosul, where the organization seized Turkish diplomats. She noted that the government, which has failed to call ISIL a terrorist organization, will use the broadcasting ban to increase its totalitarian inclinations.

Source: http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/gunay-hilal-aygun_351381_is-isil-a-threat-for-turkey.html

URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-terrorism-jihad/is-isil-threat-turkey/d/97789