Turkish Court Orders American Pastor to Be Held Under House Arrest Instead of Prison
A court in Turkey ruled on Wednesday that an American pastor who has been detained on terrorism charges for approximately two years should be placed under house arrest instead of imprisoned.
“Andrew Brunson,” a Christian pastor from North Carolina who has lived in Turkey for over 20 years, was arrested in October 2016 and accused of assisting perpetrators of the failed 2016 coup attempt.
In addition to America’s support for Syrian Kurds in the fight against ISIS and the non-extradition of Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric residing in America, this pastor’s case is another factor in the dispute between Washington and Ankara.
The government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s president, holds Gülen and his supporters responsible for the July 15, 2016 coup attempt and has pursued individuals who have any connection to him.
According to Reuters news agency, Mr. Brunson’s lawyer confirmed today the Istanbul court judge’s ruling to transfer his American client from prison to house arrest.
According to him, this American pastor is not permitted to leave the country, and in order to be monitored by security forces, he must wear an electronic bracelet on his ankle.
Before his detention, Andrew Brunson worked as a pastor of a small Protestant church in one of the southern cities of Izmir province and has denied the charges brought against him.
Mr. Brunson’s lawyer had requested his client’s release from the same court last week, which faced the judge’s opposition.
According to Turkey’s official news agency, Anadolu, the judge, upon reviewing the case again and based on medical reasons and considering Brunson’s physical condition, changed the detention order to house arrest.
If convicted in court, Andrew Brunson could face a sentence of 35 years in prison.
Donald Trump, president of the United States, has called for the release of this 50-year-old American pastor.
The U.S. Senate has previously, in response to this issue as well as Ankara’s decision to purchase the Russian S-400 missile system, banned the sale of American F-35 fighter jets to Turkey through legislative approval.
Source: Voice of America
