TEHRAN, July 19 - A Turkish court decided on Wednesday to keep an American pastor in jail, dashing hopes that he could be released during his trial on terrorism and spying charges, a case that has deepened a rift with NATO ally Washington.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor from North Carolina who has lived in Turkey for more than two decades, was indicted on charges of helping the group that Ankara blames for a failed 2016 coup against President Tayyip Erdogan, as well as supporting outlawed PKK Kurdish militants.
Brunson, who denies the charges, faces up to 35 years in jail if found guilty.
"It is really hard to stay in jail and be separated from my wife and children," Brunson, wearing a black suit and a white shirt, told the court in Turkish.
"There is no concrete evidence against me. The disciples of Jesus suffered in his name, now it is my turn. I am an innocent man on all these charges. I reject them. I know why I am here. I am here to suffer in Jesus's name."
U.S. President Donald Trump late on Wednesday said in a tweet that Erdogan "should do something to free this wonderful Christian husband & father," saying that Brunson has "been held hostage far too long."
The U.S. Senate passed a bill last month including a measure that prohibits Turkey from buying F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets because of Brunson's imprisonment and Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 air defense system.
The U.S. envoy to Turkey said he was "disappointed" by the ruling of the court in the Aegean province of Izmir, where Brunson had been living.
"Our government is deeply concerned about his status and the status of other American citizens and Turkish local employees of the U.S. diplomatic mission who have been detained under state of emergency rules," Charge d'Affaires Philip Kosnett told reporters outside the courtroom.
"We have great respect for both Turkey's traditional role as a haven for people of faiths and Turkey's legal traditions," he said. "We believe this case is out of step with these traditions."
Source: Reuters
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