Trading with Terrorists
The Turkish Government stands accused of releasing a suspected terrorist into the arms of the un-Islamic State which can only damage Turkey's ambition to be admitted into the European Union (EU).
Now the policy of paying ransoms to terrorist groups is highly controversial and for good reason, because Boko Haram have just kidnapped another 60 innocent civilians in Nigeria having agreed a 'deal' to release 200 young girls whom they abducted back in April 2014.
So while there are no easy solutions doing deals with these ruthless criminals may simply end up by putting more innocent lives at risk in the long run.
Anger at Turks for freeing Isis hitman
Lars Hedegaard, a Danish academic, was fired on at close range last year Getty Images
By Alexander Christie-Miller, John Simpson, David Charter - The Times
A man accused of trying to kill a prominent critic of Islam in Denmark has been released by Turkey amid speculation that he was part of a mass prisoner exchange with Isis.
Basil El Cheikh Hassan, 27, was awaiting extradition when he disappeared from custody, Ankara confirmed. Officials would not explain why he was freed.
His release follows revelations by The Times that at least ten EU citizens were among up to 180 Islamists handed to Isis in a prisoner swap.
The deal helped secure the freedom of 49 Turkish diplomats from the consulate in Mosul, northern Iraq, being held there by Isis. It saw citizens from Britain, France, Belgium and now possibly Denmark all being handed to Isis.
Hassan is the prime suspect in the attempted shooting last year of Lars Hedegaard, 70, a Danish academic who rose to prominence with his staunch defence of the publication of the controversial cartoon of the prophet Muhammad in 2006.
Regarded by many as an Islamophobe, Mr Hedegaard was fired on at close range by a gunman dressed as a postman when he opened the front door of his home in Copenhagen.
The assailant narrowly missed Mr Hedegaard’s head, dropped the weapon and was punched before fleeing.
Hassan, who is Danish, was arrested in April at Istanbul’s main airport on suspicion of carrying out the attack.
His release has prompted outrage in Copenhagen and the government plans to raise the issue at the next EU hearing covering Turkey’s planned membership of the EU. The Turkish ambassador was called to the Danish foreign ministry for talks yesterday.
Mette Frederiksen, the justice minister, said that Danish officials had met the Turkish foreign ministry, justice ministry and the Turkish National Intelligence Agency. Turkish press reports claimed that Hassan’s release came earlier than the swap, which also included two British citizens.
A British diplomatic source in Turkey also signalled their frustration: “We’ve asked repeatedly but the Turks haven’t confirmed that a swap involving foreign nationals took place. The Danes are also clearly very exercised.”
According to the Turkish newspaper Taraf, after the delegation returned to Denmark last Sunday, Ms Frederiksen had said: “Turkish officials confirmed that the suspect who [allegedly] carried out the armed attack against Lars Hedegaard was released. As it is known, the topic of the suspect’s release has been talked about for a few weeks. It has now been confirmed. However, it is not possible either to understand or accept Turkey’s attitude.”
Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the Danish prime minister, said: “We have always said that we eventually want Turkey to join the EU. But having said that . . . [we want] a different Turkey. We want a Turkey where there is more control over legal policy, including a case like this. Once a country asks for the extradition of a suspected person, then he should be handed over.”
