Turkey no longer protecting IHH: Sends police to detain members over Al-Qaida links

 

IHH, the Turkish aid organization behind the Gaza-bound flotilla & Mavi Marmama in 2010, reports storage facility near Syrian border was searched & employee was taken away by Police.

 

 

Turkish media said police have carried out raids in six Turkish cities, detaining several people allegedly linked to Al-Qaida, including an employee of a prominent Islamic charity.

Mavi Marmara

A crowd greets the Mavi Marmama, the lead ship of the ‘Gaza flotilla,’ upon its return to Istanbul, Dec. 26, 2010. – Photo: AP

The aid organization, IHH, confirmed Tuesday that its storage facility near the Syrian border was searched and an employee was detained. It, however, rejected any ties to Al-Qaida and denounced the police raid as an attempt to discredit the organization.

The Turkish Dogan news agency said police launched anti-terrorism raids in Istanbul and five other cities. It said at least two senior Al-Qaida suspects were detained.

The IHH had organized a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which was raided by Israel in 2010. Last week, the group rejected some news reports claiming that it was involved in the shipment of arms to Syria.

 

View original HAARETZ publication at: http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.568552