Trump threatens Turkey over the detention of US pastor
Trump on Thursday wrote on Twitter that the US “will impose
large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor
Andrew Brunson.”
Mr Brunson, 50, an evangelical Christian pastor originally from North Carolina, was let out of jail on Wednesday, after a year and a half, to serve house arrest because of “health problems,” according to Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency.
Trump has repeatedly demanded Mr Brunson’s release and said on Twitter last week that the pastor’s detention was “a total disgrace.”
One of Mr Brunson’s lawyers is Jay Sekulow, who also represents Trump in the Russia investigation.
If convicted, Mr Brunson faces up to 15 years in prison for “committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member,” references to outlawed Kurdish militants and the network of a US-based Muslim cleric blamed for a failed coup attempt.
He could receive another 20 years if he is found guilty of espionage.
Mr Brunson strongly denies the charges.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously linked Mr Brunson’s return to the US to the extradition of cleric Fethullah Gulen, the cleric Turkey’s government holds responsible for the failed July 2016 military coup.
Gulen, who denies orchestrating the coup attempt, lives in Pennsylvania.
US vice president, Mike Pence had earlier announced the possibility of sanctions against Turkey at the close of a three-day conference on religious freedom.The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson, a great Christian, family man and wonderful human being. He is suffering greatly. This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2018
Mr Brunson, 50, an evangelical Christian pastor originally from North Carolina, was let out of jail on Wednesday, after a year and a half, to serve house arrest because of “health problems,” according to Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency.
Brunson is an innocent man, there is no credible evidence against him, Pence said.
Trump has repeatedly demanded Mr Brunson’s release and said on Twitter last week that the pastor’s detention was “a total disgrace.”
One of Mr Brunson’s lawyers is Jay Sekulow, who also represents Trump in the Russia investigation.
If convicted, Mr Brunson faces up to 15 years in prison for “committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member,” references to outlawed Kurdish militants and the network of a US-based Muslim cleric blamed for a failed coup attempt.
He could receive another 20 years if he is found guilty of espionage.
Mr Brunson strongly denies the charges.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously linked Mr Brunson’s return to the US to the extradition of cleric Fethullah Gulen, the cleric Turkey’s government holds responsible for the failed July 2016 military coup.
Gulen, who denies orchestrating the coup attempt, lives in Pennsylvania.
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