US pastor heads home after release in Turkey

CASE HAD SPARKED ANKARA-WASHINGTON DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE

ATurkish court yesterday convicted an American pastor on terror charges but released him from house arrest and allowed him to leave the country, a move that’s likely to ease tensions between Turkey and the United States.

The court near the western city of Izmir sentenced Andrew Brunson to 3 years, 1 month and 15 days in prison for allegedly helping terror groups. But since the evangelical pastor had already spent nearly two years in detention, Turkish law allowed him to remain free with time served.

The earlier charge of espionage against him was dropped.

Brunson, a native of North Carolina whose detention had sparked a diplomatic dispute between the two Nato allies, had rejected the espionage and terror-related charges and strongly maintained his innocence.

Brunson had faced up to 35 years in jail if convicted of all the charges. With tears in his eyes, he hugged his wife Norine Lyn as he awaited the decision yesterday.

“This is the day our family has been praying for — I am delighted to be on my way home to the United States,” Brunson said in a statement after his release.

President Donald Trump tweeted he was praying for Brunson and announced his release, saying “WILL BE HOME SOON!”

AFP Brunson arrives with his wife Norine Lyn at Adnan Menderes airport in Izmir yesterday. The US military was expected to fly the pastor back home. A Pentagon spokeswoman said the plan involved flying Brunson through Germany where he will undergo medical tests.