Türkiye Detains 304 People For Alleged ISIS Ties

Turkish riot police stand guard in front of the Justice Palace in Istanbul March 31, 2015. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
Turkish riot police stand guard in front of the Justice Palace in Istanbul March 31, 2015. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
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Türkiye Detains 304 People For Alleged ISIS Ties

Turkish riot police stand guard in front of the Justice Palace in Istanbul March 31, 2015. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
Turkish riot police stand guard in front of the Justice Palace in Istanbul March 31, 2015. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

Turkish authorities have detained 304 people allegedly affiliated with ISIS militants after launching a sweeping operation against the group, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Friday.

Police carried out simultaneous raids in 32 cities including Istanbul as part of the operation, dubbed HEROES-34, according to AFP.

Eighty-six suspects were detained in Istanbul alone, Yerlikaya said in a social media post.

"We will continue to fight against terrorism with determination until the last terrorist is neutralized," he said.

ISIS extremists have carried out a string of attacks on Turkish soil, including against a nightclub in Istanbul in 2017 that left 39 people dead.



Belarusian Leader Pardons 23 People Jailed for 'Extremism'

In this photo released by Belarus' Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, second right, visits the Minsk City Technopark in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Belarus' Presidential Press Service via AP)
In this photo released by Belarus' Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, second right, visits the Minsk City Technopark in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Belarus' Presidential Press Service via AP)
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Belarusian Leader Pardons 23 People Jailed for 'Extremism'

In this photo released by Belarus' Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, second right, visits the Minsk City Technopark in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Belarus' Presidential Press Service via AP)
In this photo released by Belarus' Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, second right, visits the Minsk City Technopark in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Belarus' Presidential Press Service via AP)

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pardoned 23 people who were convicted of extremism, state media reported on Saturday.
State news agency Belta said three women and 20 men had been pardoned, among them 13 were older than 50, 14 had chronic diseases, 12 had children. According to Reuters, it did not give any of their names.
"All of them applied for pardon, admitted their guilt, and repented of what they had done," Belta reported.