Ankara, Hague strengthen legal cooperation amid terror fight

Turkish Minister of Justice, Akin Gürlek, met with his Dutch counterpart, David van Weel, to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of justice, focusing on organized crime, drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and money laundering.

Gürlek highlighted that, as part of Türkiye’s ongoing campaign against terrorist organizations, Ankara has submitted extradition requests to the Netherlands for 217 members of FETÖ and 8 members of the PKK. Türkiye is also seeking the extradition of Musa Asoğlu, the leader of the DHKP-C terrorist organization, Haber 7 reports.

The minister emphasized that judicial cooperation not only strengthens relations between the two countries but also plays a critical role in the global fight against crime. He also voiced concern over rising xenophobia and Islamophobia in Western Europe, underscoring the need to protect the safety and rights of the Turkish community in the Netherlands.

The meeting was described as a significant step toward deepening bilateral ties and reinforcing the strategic alliance between Türkiye and the Netherlands.

By Vafa Guliyeva