Turkish Interior Minister to Border Governorates: Support al-Nusra

A photograph of the letter from the Interior Ministry to the Hatay Governorate

In a recent report from lekolin.org the website claims to have a document signed by the Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Güler and addressed to the Hatay governorate, in which the minister commands the local authorities to aid Turkish intelligence in their support of al-Nusra in their cross border operations against the PYD. According to the report similar letters were also sent to the governorates of Mardin, Urfa and Antep.

The letter, dated 3-15-13, asks that local authorities in the Hatay give their full cooperation to MİT (Turkish National Intelligence Agency) in their support of foreign fighters operating out of bases in Turkey. The letter makes specific reference to the fighters’ countries of origin – most, according to the minister, are from Tunisia and Chechnya – and emphasizes the necessity of their role in combating the PYD, which is refers to as an extension of the PKK. The letter also refers to the fighters as mujahideen and asks the governorates to cooperate in among other things providing accommodation and medical treatment for wounded fighters. Finally the letter asks the governorates to coordinate their efforts with the Religious Ministry and Islamic civil society, organizations that the letter claims are also aiding the fighters.

 Al-Nusra is commonly accused of committing atrocities against civilians in Rojava and other parts of Syria by both locals and authorities in the West.