News and Commentary: Regarding the arrest of a spy cell of three Syrians working for France

News and Commentary:

Turkish and Syrian media have reported the arrest of a spy cell working for France, consisting of three Syrians. According to the website “Aleppo Today,” the Turkish intelligence agency announced the arrest of three individuals holding Syrian nationality for conducting “espionage activities” on behalf of France. The site quoted the Turkish intelligence as saying that the spy network of 3 people “exchanged information and forged documents that condemn Turkey on an international level regarding the torture of refugees” with French intelligence.

Commentary by the Syrian Future Movement:
1- Such news and similar reports cause concern among Syrian activists, both media and human rights advocates, fearing an intelligence conspiracy by the Syrian regime to disseminate such information and its ability to launch fabricated reports against Syrian activists in Turkey. This is taken into consideration by the Turkish authorities to fulfill their mission of protecting their security and stability, placing Syrian activists before a test of subjection to Turkish judicial control in cases that mostly require consideration and scrutiny.

2- Attention to the existence of Turkish entities represented by some of the Turkish opposition, which seeks political revenge internally through blackmail in the Syrian file. These entities pressure to restrict Syrians, tarnish their reputation, defame them, and exploit the Turkish public’s resentment towards Syrians in Turkey by fabricating files and accusations against media professionals and activists or even the entire refugee population.

3- The case of Orient TV journalists represents a clear example of the pressure on Syrian activists in Turkey, as does the case of the spy cell for the Israeli Mossad, which was pinned on Syrians but from which the Turkish judiciary acquitted them. This situation calls for raising awareness about the necessity of following up on this issue between the Syrian opposition and the Turkish authorities.

4- Syrians fear the deportation of any Syrian refugee even on suspicion, even if their innocence of any fabricated claim is proven. This creates a state of instability that threatens family, social, and economic disintegration, a situation that requires solving its problems.

5- The Syrian Future Movement believes that both Turkey and the Syrian people are targeted, and there are attempts to sow discord and hatred between Syrians and Turks. This makes the mission of the sincere and patriotic individuals significant in avoiding the causes of these conflicts, and striving for transparent communication between the Turkish government and the concerned Syrians at all levels to resolve them and mitigate their expected damages.