Turkey denies release for U.S. pastor

WASHINGTON — Despite dire warnings from Washington, a Turkish court on Tuesday refused to release an American Protestant minister who has been detained there on charges related to a failed coup two years ago.

Andrew Brunson, of Black Mountain, N.C., spent nearly 21 months in a Turkish jail on charges that his supporters contend are fabricated. Last week, under U.S. pressure, he was released to house arrest.

But a court Tuesday denied Brunson’s appeal to be freed and have a travel ban against him lifted, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency.

Brunson had worked in Turkey for two decades before he was swept up in mass arrests after renegade members of the Turkish military attempted to oust the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Tens of thousands of teachers, politicians, police officers, journalists and others were arrested or fired from their jobs in retaliation. Three Turkish employees of U.S. diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul are also under arrest.

The Brunson case has inflamed tensions between the U.S. and Turkey, NATO allies. The administration in recent weeks, through back-channel communications, has sought to step up the pressure. President Donald Trump last week threatened to hit the Turkish government with harsh economic sanctions if the preacher is not released.