Nearly 49,000 foreigners denied entry to Turkey: Interior Minister

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

A total of 49,343 foreigners have been denied entry to Turkey as a part of the country’s anti-terror measures, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said on May 31, as he spoke about Turkey’s efforts against outlawed groups.

“49,343 foreigners from 144 different countries were denied entry to Turkey, because we don’t want them to go there [Syria and Iraq] and get terror training,” Ala said, as he added that 3,513 people from 97 countries were deported. 

“When we go to Western countries or when they come to Turkey, in our talks with interior ministers we underline that they should do their part regarding this issue after stating what we’ve done,” Ala said. “We deport them and forbid their entrance to Turkey but that’s not enough. Those countries should show their citizens that the issue is significant and prevent them from coming here while they are there,” he added.

Saying the efforts Turkey is putting up against terrorist organizations which take advantage of the vacancies in Syria and Iraq can be an example for the world, Ala added that some of the foreigners had been detained. 

“These foreigners are trying to pass through Turkey and we are notifying about them to their countries. Some 5,172 people connected to these regions, of which 1,950 were foreigners, were detained and 1,590 of them were arrested,” he added.