Iraqi Government confirms turning back convoy of Turkish pilgrims to Turkey

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Government confirmed “Turning back the convoy of the Turkish pilgrims to Turkey because they entered the Iraqi territories without getting legal permissions.”

A statement by Maliki’s office received by IraqiNews.com cited “The specialized authorities stopped several buses that came from Turkey to Iraq through Kurdistan Region without coordination or prior notice for the Iraqi Government on last Wednesday night and Thursday morning.”

“Because there were no legal approvals for these buses, they were sent back to Turkey,” the statement added.

“The Government took only this procedure despite their illegal entrance into Iraq because they were pilgrims,” the statement continued.

“The Government confirms that all the Turkish pilgrims have to get their visas and legal approval from the Iraqi embassies and consulates in their country,” the statement concluded.

Earlier, the Iraqi Security Forces in Babel confined “A convoy entered the Iraqi territories to Iraq without getting permission on Thursday.”

Security source stated to IraqiNews.com “The convoy comprises 113 buses which entered the Iraqi territories illegally,” noting that “They were trying to pass through Iraq to Saudi Arabia to perform the rituals of the pilgrimage.”

“For his part, Babel Governor, Mohamed al-Masoudi, assured that the Premier, Nouri al-Maliki, was informed about the convoy till it will be sent back to Turkey,” the source concluded.