In a strong-worded statement, the Foreign Ministry called the allegation “unfounded” and slammed the report as an “act of grave irresponsibility.”
The Taraf daily claimed on Thursday that Ankara decided to relinquish its only territory in Syria, the tomb of Süleyman Şah -- the burial place of the grandfather of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire -- to the radical militants who have been holding Turkish hostages, including diplomats and special forces soldiers, for more than two months in Mosul. The newspaper argued that Turkey initially offered a ransom for the hostages but that the two sides agreed on a land-for-hostages deal.
The Foreign Ministry criticized the report, saying the “exploitation of national security and the wellbeing of our citizens are absolutely not acceptable” and cannot be “considered within the framework of the freedom of press.”
It also said efforts are under way for the safe return of the hostages.
Authorities have imposed a media ban on the seizure of the Turkish Consulate in Mosul and the taking of the hostages. They say reporting on the matter may put the 49 people at risk.
In recent months, reports had emerged that ISIL forces in Syria were trying to gain control of the area around the tomb of Süleyman Şah and that the Turkish territory was under threat of attack. Turkey had said it would retaliate in the event of an attack on the tomb in Syria, regardless of the attacker's allegiances.
Ankara regards the tomb as sovereign Turkish territory under a treaty signed with France in 1921, when Syria was under French rule. About two dozen Turkish Special Forces soldiers guard the tomb.
The report came amid talks that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will be chosen as a successor to Turkish Prime Minister and President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Many criticized the decision to appoint Davutoğlu as a new prime minister due to his failure in foreign policy as well as his inability to rescue the Mosul hostages.
The Taraf report said the government has already notified the Turkish army to withdraw its troops who are guarding the tomb from the territory, arguing that the advance of the ISIL militants pose a risk to the lives of the Turkish security services on duty there.
The report claimed that ISIL initially demanded money and arms from Turkey for the hostages, but later requested to have the Turkish territory in northern Syria.
