Gov’t rejects claims that jihadists were treated at Turkish hospitals

ANKARA

AA Photo

The Turkish government has denied claims that it has supported jihadist militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), recently renamed the Islamic State.

“We do not have any data in hand on that issue,” Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay told reporters on Aug. 14 when asked about claims that jihadists have received treatment in Turkey.

“But there is nothing like us exerting efforts to bring people here, or anything such as assistance and treatment,” Atalay added.

In an interview with the Washington Post published on Aug. 12, a jihadist commander who had traveled to the town of Reyhanlı in the southern province of Hatay explained that they had received most of their supplies from across the Turkish border, until a recent crackdown against them.

“We used to have some fighters — even high-level members of the Islamic State — getting treated in Turkish hospitals. And also, most of the fighters who joined us in the beginning of the war came via Turkey, and so did our equipment and supplies,” the 27-year-old commander, identified as Abu Yusef, said.