Australian premier to ask Turkey for better policing on Syria, Iraq borders

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says he will ask Turkish officials to prevent people from crossing the country’s borders into Syria and Iraq to fight for the ISIL terrorist group.

“I will be talking to the Turkish leadership about what can be done to better police that border and better ensure that people who have no reason to be going there are prevented from being there,” Abbott said during a trip to New Zealand on Monday.

Abbott is slated to go to Turkey later this week for the Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day ceremonies. Observed on April 25 each year, the Anzac Day honors the Australians and the New Zealanders who fought and died during an ill-fated World War I battle on Turkey’s Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, 1915.

“Obviously, Australians who have gone to fight with the death cult (ISIL) have mostly gone through Turkey,” the Australian premier said, adding that it is vital to prevent young Australians from joining the ISIL.

Thousands of foreigners have joined the ISIL and other terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq, many of them crossing through Turkey, which is accused of providing logistical support for the terrorists and enabling their passage through its territory.

Ankara is known to be a staunch supporter of the ISIL, which fights the governments of Syria and Iraq.

The ISIL terrorist group controls parts of Syria and Iraq, and has been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.