Parliamentary panel adopts protocol on fight against foreign fighters

Turan Yılmaz-ANKARA

A parliamentary commission has approved a protocol of the Council of Europe (CoE) aimed at addressing the issue of foreign terrorist fighters.

Turkey was among first seventeen signatory states of the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism, which was opened for signatures in October 2015. 

The parliament’s foreign affairs commission approved the additional protocol late March. The government bill favoring adoption of the protocol said it would offer an opportunity to strengthen legislation in the fight against terrorism, while also reaffirming Turkey’s determination in this global fight.

According to the protocol, “‘travelling abroad for the purpose of terrorism’ means travelling to a state, which is not that of the traveler’s nationality or residence, for the purpose of the commission of, contribution to or participation in a terrorist offence, or the providing or receiving of training for terrorism.” It requires each signatory to adopt measures necessary to establish who is “travelling abroad for the purpose of terrorism,” from its territory or by its nationals, as a criminal offence under its domestic law. 

“[I]n accordance with its domestic law and existing international obligations, each Party shall take such measures as may be necessary in order to strengthen the timely exchange between Parties of any available relevant information concerning persons travelling abroad for the purpose of terrorism… For that purpose, each Party shall designate a point of contact available on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis,” says Article 7 of the protocol.

Article 7, which also regards the sharing of information between parties, was put in the protocol upon Turkey’s demand, sources said.