Bogor, Feb. 11 -- The government has decided not to accept Indonesian citizens who joined terrorist networks abroad, including the ISIS, Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said. The decision was made keeping in mind the safety of 267 million people in Indonesia from the threat of terrorism, Mahfud said at the Bogor Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java on Tuesday.

Some 689 Indonesian citizens were identified as foreign terrorist fighters in some countries, including in Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan, according to Mahfud. The government is still collecting data on their background and role in the group.

"If these foreign terrorist fighters return they can become a new virus that makes these 267 mil...