Freedom again denied for U.S. pastor held in Turkey
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 offi- cers, 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 been a cause celebre in the United States, and has inflamed already raw tensions between the U.S. and Turkey, NATO allies.
The administration in recent weeks, through backchannel communications and public outcry, has sought to step up the pres- sure on Ankara.
President Donald Trump last week, calling Brunson “a great Christian, family man” who was “suffering greatly,” threatened to hit the Turkish government with harsh economic sanctions if the preacher is not released.
Vice President Mike Pence, like Brunson an evangelical Christian, highlighted Brunson’s plight at a recent State Department international conference on religious freedom. “Release Pastor Andrew Brunson now,” Pence said, addressing Erdogan, “or be prepared to face the consequences.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the news of Brunson’s release to house arrest last week as “overdue” but “not enough.”
“We have seen no credible evidence against Mr. Brunson, and call on Turkish authorities to resolve his case immediately in a transparent and fair manner,” Pompeo said. Pastor Andrew Brunson, center, arrives at his house in Izmir, Turkey, last week.