Another country tells Syrian refugees to “go home” despite ongoing instability. Over the past week, Turkey sent roughly 1,000 Syrian refugees to a province held by rebel and militant forces. The transfer comes as talks stall between U.S. and Turkish officials about setting up “safe zones” within Syria.
Meanwhile, some experts say a recent attack proves the Islamic State still has a presence in Syria. The terrorists target Christians – those who’ve stayed, and those who are returning. Middle East Concern’s Miles Windsor says Da’esh – the Arabic acronym for Islamic State – claimed a July 11 car bombing outside a church in a Christian neighborhood.
“There are at least 12 people who were injured, some critically injured,” Windsor says. “These are attempts to intimidate the Christian community.
“The reality is that Da’esh – whilst militarily defeated – the ideology [still] exists and they maintain some presence.”
According to Reuters, most of Turkey’s 3.6 million Syrian refugees live in provinces near the Turkey-Syria border; Istanbul alone holds more than a half-million. However, as the Associated Press reports, “between 600 and 1,500 Syrians were wrongfully returned to Syria from Istanbul in the last week.”
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SOURCE: Mission Network News, Katey Hearth
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