This refers to the editorial, “Islamic State ups the ante” (July 1). In our day of mourning, we are sad to encounter claims misrepresenting Turkey’s firm stand against the Islamic State. Turkey counters the threat posed by foreign terrorists very seriously. More than 36,000 suspected persons were apprehended, extradited and included in the no-entry list by Turkish law enforcement authorities.
Turkey regularly provides information to the UN Security Council Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee about the incidents of smuggled oil and amount of oil seized on the Syrian border. Enhanced measures targeting oil smuggling networks were introduced in 2012, and the amount of smuggled oil has considerably decreased.
We trust the goodwill and better judgement of our friends not to lend credence to baseless assertions, and instead lend full support to our staunch fight against terrorism, which is a crime against all humanity and has no religion or cause to justify it.