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'''Andrew Craig Brunson''' (born January 3, 1968) is an American pastor in [[Turkey]], arrested in October 2016 during the [[2016–present purges in Turkey|purges occurring after the aftermath of the]] [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt]], which involved imprisoning tens of thousands of Turkish military personnel, civil servants, educators, academics, dissidents, and journalists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey elections: Six arrested for ‘insulting Erdogan’ on social media ahead of major national polls |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-elections-arrests-insulting-president-erdogan-opposition-a8414146.html |work=The Independent |date=24 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security/turkey-orders-detention-of-132-people-in-coup-probe-agency-idUSKBN1JM0T6 |title=Turkey orders detention of 132 people in coup probe: agency |work=Reuters|date=26 June 2018}}</ref> Brunson is an [[evangelical]] pastor of the [[Izmir]] Resurrection Church, a small [[Protestant]] church with about 25 congregants.<ref name="veconomist" />
'''Andrew Craig Brunson''' (born January 3, 1968) is an American pastor in [[Turkey]], arrested in October 2016 during the [[2016–present purges in Turkey|purges occurring after the aftermath of the]] [[2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt]], which involved imprisoning tens of thousands of Turkish military personnel, civil servants, educators, academics, dissidents, and journalists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey elections: Six arrested for ‘insulting Erdogan’ on social media ahead of major national polls |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-elections-arrests-insulting-president-erdogan-opposition-a8414146.html |work=The Independent |date=24 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-security/turkey-orders-detention-of-132-people-in-coup-probe-agency-idUSKBN1JM0T6 |title=Turkey orders detention of 132 people in coup probe: agency |work=Reuters|date=26 June 2018}}</ref> Brunson is an [[evangelical]] pastor of the [[Izmir]] Resurrection Church, a small [[Protestant]] church with about 25 congregants.<ref name="veconomist" /> [[T-Online]] describes the church as having been held in a room in a tenement.


On July 26, 2018, [[US Vice President]] [[Mike Pence|Pence]] called on Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] to release Brunson or face significant sanctions.<ref name="pence">cnsnews.com: [https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/melanie-arter/pence-turkey-free-pastor-andrew-brunson-or-face-sanctions ''Pence to Turkey: Free Pastor Andrew Brunson or Face Sanctions'']</ref><ref>July 19, 2018: [https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/trump-calls-incarcerated-american-pastor-hostage-urges-turkeys ''Trump Calls Incarcerated American Pastor a ‘Hostage,’ Urges Turkey’s Erdogan to Act'']</ref> On August 1, 2018, the [[U.S. Department of Treasury]] imposed sanctions on two top [[Cabinet Erdoğan IV|Turkish government officials]] who were involved in the detention of Brunson, Turkish Justice Minister [[Abdulhamit Gül]] and Interior Minister [[Suleyman Soylu]].<ref>{{cite news |title=US sanctions Turkey over Pastor Brunson detention |url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/us-sanctions-turkey-over-pastor-brunson-detention-1.756238 |work=The National |date=August 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>thehill.com August 1, 2018: [http://thehill.com/policy/finance/399923-treasuy-targets-turkish-officials-with-sanctions-over-jailing-of-us-pastor ''Treasury targets Turkish officials with sanctions over detained US pastor''] (see also Turkish Justice Minister [[Abdulhamit Gül]] and Interior Minister [[Suleyman Soylu]]).</ref>
On July 26, 2018, [[US Vice President]] [[Mike Pence|Pence]] called on Turkish President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] to release Brunson or face significant sanctions.<ref name="pence">cnsnews.com: [https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/melanie-arter/pence-turkey-free-pastor-andrew-brunson-or-face-sanctions ''Pence to Turkey: Free Pastor Andrew Brunson or Face Sanctions'']</ref><ref>July 19, 2018: [https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/trump-calls-incarcerated-american-pastor-hostage-urges-turkeys ''Trump Calls Incarcerated American Pastor a ‘Hostage,’ Urges Turkey’s Erdogan to Act'']</ref> On August 1, 2018, the [[U.S. Department of Treasury]] imposed sanctions on two top [[Cabinet Erdoğan IV|Turkish government officials]] who were involved in the detention of Brunson, Turkish Justice Minister [[Abdulhamit Gül]] and Interior Minister [[Suleyman Soylu]].<ref>{{cite news |title=US sanctions Turkey over Pastor Brunson detention |url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/us-sanctions-turkey-over-pastor-brunson-detention-1.756238 |work=The National |date=August 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>thehill.com August 1, 2018: [http://thehill.com/policy/finance/399923-treasuy-targets-turkish-officials-with-sanctions-over-jailing-of-us-pastor ''Treasury targets Turkish officials with sanctions over detained US pastor''] (see also Turkish Justice Minister [[Abdulhamit Gül]] and Interior Minister [[Suleyman Soylu]]).</ref>
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Nate Schenkkan of [[Freedom House]] tweeted that "Brunson is charged with being part of a conspiracy of evangelicals, Mormons, & Jehovah's Witnesses embedded among American service personnel in Turkey who conspired to divide the Turkish state on behalf of the PKK and Gülen movement." He describes it as a "farce".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Griffin Paul |title=Turkey Keeps American Pastor Behind Bars—At Least for Three More Months |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/july/turkey-andrew-brunson-american-pastor-erdogan.html |website=Christianity Today |accessdate=23 July 2018}}</ref>
Nate Schenkkan of [[Freedom House]] tweeted that "Brunson is charged with being part of a conspiracy of evangelicals, Mormons, & Jehovah's Witnesses embedded among American service personnel in Turkey who conspired to divide the Turkish state on behalf of the PKK and Gülen movement." He describes it as a "farce".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Griffin Paul |title=Turkey Keeps American Pastor Behind Bars—At Least for Three More Months |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/july/turkey-andrew-brunson-american-pastor-erdogan.html |website=Christianity Today |accessdate=23 July 2018}}</ref>
⚫
Brunson denies helping the coup, and denies he had intentionally had contact with either group blamed for the coup. <ref name="Asheville">{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Mark |title=Charges against Brunson contain a strange mix of conspiracy theories — and a food video |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/05/05/andrew-brunson-maklube-missionary-turkey-tillis/577338002/ |website=Asheville Citizen-Times |accessdate=28 June 2018}}</ref>


⚫
====Gülen-related====
⚫
According to the ''[[Asheville Citizen-Times]]'', they were provided a translation of the indictment by the [[American Center for Law and Justice]].<ref name="Asheville">{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Mark |title=Charges against Brunson contain a strange mix of conspiracy theories — and a food video |url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2018/05/05/andrew-brunson-maklube-missionary-turkey-tillis/577338002/ |website=Asheville Citizen-Times |accessdate=28 June 2018}}</ref>

⚫
===Gülen-related===
According to ''[[Slate.com|Slate]]'', "The case against Brunson is reportedly based on the testimony of an undisclosed witness, though reports vary as to what exactly the witness alleges. In one version, Brunson attended a Gülenist event. In another, he spoke positively once about relations between Christians and the movement."<ref name="slate1"/> Brunson was charged with "membership in an armed terrorist organization," "gathering state secrets for espionage, attempting to overthrow the Turkish parliament and government, and to change the constitutional order."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/us-pastor-andrew-brunson-faces-new-charges-attempting-overthrow-turkish-government-196941/ |title=US Pastor Andrew Brunson Faces New Charges of Attempting to Overthrow Turkish Gov't |work=The Christian Post |date=2017-08-27 |accessdate=2017-09-28}}</ref><ref name=BeHeardProject>{{cite web |url=https://www.beheardproject.com/andrew-brunson |title=Andrew Brunson: American Christian Pastor Imprisoned in Turkey |publisher=[[American Center for Law and Justice]] |work=Be Heard Project |accessdate=2017-09-28}}</ref>
According to ''[[Slate.com|Slate]]'', "The case against Brunson is reportedly based on the testimony of an undisclosed witness, though reports vary as to what exactly the witness alleges. In one version, Brunson attended a Gülenist event. In another, he spoke positively once about relations between Christians and the movement."<ref name="slate1"/> Brunson was charged with "membership in an armed terrorist organization," "gathering state secrets for espionage, attempting to overthrow the Turkish parliament and government, and to change the constitutional order."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/us-pastor-andrew-brunson-faces-new-charges-attempting-overthrow-turkish-government-196941/ |title=US Pastor Andrew Brunson Faces New Charges of Attempting to Overthrow Turkish Gov't |work=The Christian Post |date=2017-08-27 |accessdate=2017-09-28}}</ref><ref name=BeHeardProject>{{cite web |url=https://www.beheardproject.com/andrew-brunson |title=Andrew Brunson: American Christian Pastor Imprisoned in Turkey |publisher=[[American Center for Law and Justice]] |work=Be Heard Project |accessdate=2017-09-28}}</ref>


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The ''Asheville Citizen-Times'' says that it mentions that Brunson's daughter, who was raised in Turkey, had sent a video of the Turkish dish known as [[maqluba]] to his iPhone, which was found by the Turkish government. According to the prosecution, this dish is something that Gülen supporters commonly eat.<ref name="Asheville" />
The ''Asheville Citizen-Times'' says that it mentions that Brunson's daughter, who was raised in Turkey, had sent a video of the Turkish dish known as [[maqluba]] to his iPhone, which was found by the Turkish government. According to the prosecution, this dish is something that Gülen supporters commonly eat.<ref name="Asheville" />


The prosecution claims that he was involved in organizing the 2013 Gezi Park riots for this organization. It is claimed that he possessed a list containing information for "'gas station workers in Turkey's southeast,' 'railway employees,' or 'soldiers to get in contact with'"
The prosecution claims that he was involved in organizing the 2013 Gezi Park riots for this organization. It is claimed that he possessed a list containing information for "'gas station workers in Turkey's southeast,' 'railway employees,' or 'soldiers to get in contact with'" <ref name="Sabah" />
The secret witness involved claimed that they could not understand what the information meant, possibly that they were meant to be "logistics centers"<ref name="Asheville" />

====Background====
=====Background=====
Gulen's organization is claimed to be a terrorist organization by the Turkish government. They refer to it as "FETO".
Gulen's organization is claimed to be a terrorist organization by the Turkish government. They refer to it as "FETO".


Gulen is in exile from the country.
Gulen is in exile from the country.


===PKK-related===
====PKK-related====
The prosecution also claims that Brunson is a collaborator with armed Kurdish groups.
The prosecution also claims that Brunson is a collaborator with armed Kurdish groups.


Line 101: Line 100:
A witness named Serhat claimed that "[s]ome members of the church would worship in Kurdish and carry out PKK propaganda".<ref name="Ahval" />
A witness named Serhat claimed that "[s]ome members of the church would worship in Kurdish and carry out PKK propaganda".<ref name="Ahval" />


He mentions a Syrian Kurdish member who was allegedly fervent in attempting to bring in Kurds from all areas of Turkey and speaking to the congregation. <ref name="Ahval" />
He mentions a Syrian Kurdish member who was allegedly fervent in attempting to bring in Kurds from all areas of Turkey and allegedly speaking at Belgian missionary events that supposedly featured PKK cakes. Brunson's defense replied that if they had understood this member to have PKK ties, they would never have let him in.<ref name="Ahval" />

He makes the claim that Kurdish refugees had been transported to the church under the guise of [[Humanitarian aid during the Syrian Civil War|humanitarian aid]], and were either sent to fight for the organization or sent to. <ref name="Ahval" /> Another claim that is made by Serhat is that the United States intelligence used the church's missionary team to transmit co-ordinates to the YPG. <ref name="Ahval" /> Serhat claims the United States used co-ordinates from YPG to drop military aid. <ref name="Ahval" />
"Serhat" makes the claim that Kurdish refugees had been transported to the church under the guise of [[Humanitarian aid during the Syrian Civil War|humanitarian aid]], and were either sent to fight for the organization or sent to. <ref name="Ahval" /> Another claim that is made by "Serhat" is that the United States intelligence used the church's missionary team to transmit co-ordinates to the YPG. <ref name="Ahval" /> Serhat claims the United States used co-ordinates from YPG to drop military aid. <ref name="Ahval" />

====America-related====
The prosecution claims that Brunson helped the CIA do the attempted coup. <ref name="T-online">{{cite news |last1=Diekmann |first1=Patrick |title=Der Pastor, der die Krise auslöste |url=https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/ausland/internationale-politik/id_84217610/tid_amp/tuerkei-der-pastor-in-erdogans-geiselhaft-wer-ist-andrew-brunson-.html |accessdate=15 August 2018 |work=T-Online}}</ref>

In relation to claims about Christianity, the indictment also makes the claim that there is what is called a "Mormon Gang" within American intelligence. <ref name="Asheville" />

It is alleged by one of the witnesses that Brunson's church was supposedly a waypoint for co-ordinates between the CIA and YPG due to alleged support for the PKK.<ref name="Ahval" />
====Christianity-related====
The indictment also makes many other broad claims about Christianity and the United States government that the Asheville Citizen-Times describe as conspiracy theories.

According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, the indictment contains a "lengthy discourse on the alleged influence of Mormons in Turkey"<ref name="Asheville" /> (Brunson is not Mormon) along with an accusation that every church in the United States is connected to some organization with the acronym "CAMA", that "holds sway over" <ref name="Asheville" /> each and every one of them. The indictment also makes the claim that every evangelical missionary and Mormon missionary who wants to leave the United States must have permission from this organization<ref name="Asheville">, indicating that they allege that it influences both. (However, Protestants and Mormons have many theological disagreements.) This group is unfamiliar to Christian officials within the ACLJ, who view it as "unfounded".<ref name="Asheville" />

It is also alleged by the prosecution that there are websites on the internet that describe Turkish president Erdogan as the Antichrist, and the indictment almost suggests it as a motive for Brunson, a Christian, to help the coup plotters. The Citizen-Times argues that theory is most likely overshadowed by theories regarding more popular leaders, regarding this theory wildly obscure and not likely to .<ref name="Asheville" />






====Further claims by Turkish media====
====Further claims by Turkish media====

Revision as of 22:56, 15 August 2018


Andrew Brunson
Personal
Born
Andrew Craig Brunson

(1968-01-03) January 3, 1968 (age 56)
Black Mountain, North Carolina, U.S.
ReligionProtestant Christian
NationalityUnited States
Home townIzmir, Turkey
SpouseNorine Brunson
Children3
DenominationEvangelical Presbyterian Church[1]
Alma materTrinity Evangelical Divinity School (M.A., 1991);[2] Erskine Theological Seminary M.Div.; University of Aberdeen, PhD
Organization
ChurchIzmir Resurrection Church
Homechurch: Christ Community Church in Montreat, N.C.
Senior posting
Postpastor
WebsiteEvangelical Presbyterian Church - free Pastor Andrew

Andrew Craig Brunson (born January 3, 1968) is an American pastor in Turkey, arrested in October 2016 during the purges occurring after the aftermath of the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, which involved imprisoning tens of thousands of Turkish military personnel, civil servants, educators, academics, dissidents, and journalists.[3][4] Brunson is an evangelical pastor of the Izmir Resurrection Church, a small Protestant church with about 25 congregants.[1] T-Online describes the church as having been held in a room in a tenement.

On July 26, 2018, US Vice President Pence called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to release Brunson or face significant sanctions.[5][6] On August 1, 2018, the U.S. Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on two top Turkish government officials who were involved in the detention of Brunson, Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.[7][8]

Arrest

Brunson who was applying for Turkish permanent residency, having lived there 23 years, was imprisoned on October 7, 2016, accused of being a member of the Gülen movement, which the Turkish government considers to be a terrorist organization.[9][10][11][12][13] The charges were later amended to include spying and attempting to overthrow the government.[14] Brunson shared a small cell with 17 Turkish prisoners also allegedly in some way affiliated with the Gülen movement.[15]

As of October 2017, Brunson has joined Americans under arrest for similar charges in Turkey including Ismail Kul, a chemistry professor at Widener University in Pennsylvania, and his brother Mustafa Kul, arrested in August 2016 in Bursa;[16] and Serkan Golge, a 37-year-old NASA physicist; and such non-Americans as U.S. embassy worker Hamza Ulucay, a Turkish national who worked in the U.S. mission in Adana for over three decades; and Metin Topuz, a Turkish national who worked in the American embassy in Istanbul. Mete Canturk, another employee of the embassy, was being sought on similar charges; his wife and child were questioned by investigators in Amasya;[17] and the embassy's deputy chief, Philip Kosnett, was also being sought.[18][19][20]

On July 25, 2018, Brunson was released and put under house arrest.[5]

Brunson is married with three children.[1] His wife, Norine, was initially arrested alongside him but was released after 13 days.[1] Norine later briefly met American Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in March 2017.[1] She is described as the main source of news concerning the fate of her husband, such as the keenness of his devout Muslim cellmates to convert him to Islam.[1]

Indictment and trial

The Turkish government primarily has claimed that Brunson is a member of the Gülen movement, but also claims that he works with PKK, and is involved with American espionage, among other things. They have claimed that he was interested in overthrowing the Turkish government and that he supposedly helped plan the coup, which he denies.

In May 2018, a hearing for his case occurred in Aliaga that lasted eleven hours. The judge dismissed all of Brunson's witnesses without listening to any of their testimony.[21] Sandra Jolley, Vice Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom attended the case, and released the following statement:

“We leave the courthouse with serious concerns. Today’s eleven hours of proceedings were dominated by wild conspiracies, tortured logic, and secret witnesses, but no real evidence to speak of. Upon these rests a man’s life”[21] She described the judge's decision not to allow any of the witnesses called by Brunson's defense to testify on his behalf as "simply unconscionable".[21]

Case claims

See also: Conspiracy theories in Turkey

Nate Schenkkan of Freedom House tweeted that "Brunson is charged with being part of a conspiracy of evangelicals, Mormons, & Jehovah's Witnesses embedded among American service personnel in Turkey who conspired to divide the Turkish state on behalf of the PKK and Gülen movement." He describes it as a "farce".[22] Brunson denies helping the coup, and denies he had intentionally had contact with either group blamed for the coup. [23]

According to Slate, "The case against Brunson is reportedly based on the testimony of an undisclosed witness, though reports vary as to what exactly the witness alleges. In one version, Brunson attended a Gülenist event. In another, he spoke positively once about relations between Christians and the movement."[9] Brunson was charged with "membership in an armed terrorist organization," "gathering state secrets for espionage, attempting to overthrow the Turkish parliament and government, and to change the constitutional order."[24][25]

According to the Daily Sabah, the prosecution claims he had frequent contacts with a man named Bekir Baz, whom they claim is a "point man" for Gulen's organization. It is claimed there is " " that proves he was connected to them.[26]

The Asheville Citizen-Times says that it mentions that Brunson's daughter, who was raised in Turkey, had sent a video of the Turkish dish known as maqluba to his iPhone, which was found by the Turkish government. According to the prosecution, this dish is something that Gülen supporters commonly eat.[23]

The prosecution claims that he was involved in organizing the 2013 Gezi Park riots for this organization. It is claimed that he possessed a list containing information for "'gas station workers in Turkey's southeast,' 'railway employees,' or 'soldiers to get in contact with'" [26] The secret witness involved claimed that they could not understand what the information meant, possibly that they were meant to be "logistics centers"[23]

Background

Gulen's organization is claimed to be a terrorist organization by the Turkish government. They refer to it as "FETO".

Gulen is in exile from the country.

The prosecution also claims that Brunson is a collaborator with armed Kurdish groups.

The prosecution claims that he went to YPG territory in Syria, namely, Kobani and Turkey's Suruc district. It is claimed that he is shown with Kurdish symbols. [26]

The prosecution claims he wanted to Christianize Kurdistan and have it be a Christian state. [27][28]

The Daily Sabah claims he founded a special church that only admits Kurdish members known as the "Kurdish Church of the Messiah". [26]

A witness named Serhat claimed that "[s]ome members of the church would worship in Kurdish and carry out PKK propaganda".[27]

He mentions a Syrian Kurdish member who was allegedly fervent in attempting to bring in Kurds from all areas of Turkey and allegedly speaking at Belgian missionary events that supposedly featured PKK cakes. Brunson's defense replied that if they had understood this member to have PKK ties, they would never have let him in.[27]

"Serhat" makes the claim that Kurdish refugees had been transported to the church under the guise of humanitarian aid, and were either sent to fight for the organization or sent to. [27] Another claim that is made by "Serhat" is that the United States intelligence used the church's missionary team to transmit co-ordinates to the YPG. [27] Serhat claims the United States used co-ordinates from YPG to drop military aid. [27]

The prosecution claims that Brunson helped the CIA do the attempted coup. [29]

In relation to claims about Christianity, the indictment also makes the claim that there is what is called a "Mormon Gang" within American intelligence. [23]

It is alleged by one of the witnesses that Brunson's church was supposedly a waypoint for co-ordinates between the CIA and YPG due to alleged support for the PKK.[27]

The indictment also makes many other broad claims about Christianity and the United States government that the Asheville Citizen-Times describe as conspiracy theories.

According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, the indictment contains a "lengthy discourse on the alleged influence of Mormons in Turkey"[23] (Brunson is not Mormon) along with an accusation that every church in the United States is connected to some organization with the acronym "CAMA", that "holds sway over" [23] each and every one of them. The indictment also makes the claim that every evangelical missionary and Mormon missionary who wants to leave the United States must have permission from this organizationCite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

Reactions

Brunson has said, "I am not a member of an Islamic movement. I have never seen any member of FETÖ [the Gülen movement] in my life."[30] In a March 2017 letter to U.S. President Donald Trump through an attorney with the American Center for Law and Justice, Brunson said, "Let the Turkish government know that you will not cooperate with them in any way until they release me."[31]

According to a February 2017 letter to the president of Turkey signed by 78 members of the U.S. Congress, "There appears to be no evidence to substantiate the charges against him for membership in an armed terrorist organization."[32]

A petition for the release of Brunson was launched on the White House's "WE the PEOPLE" citizen petitions website in February 2017, but was later closed without garnering enough signatures. The American Center for Law and Justice launched similar petitions on its main website[33] and the website of its Be Heard Project.[25]

On September 28, 2017, Erdoğan said the United States should exchange Pennsylvania-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen with Pastor Andrew Brunson, saying "You have a pastor too. Give him to us.... Then we will try [Brunson] and give him to you."[34][35][36][37] The Federal judiciary alone determines extradition cases in the U.S.[38] An August 2017 decree gave Erdogan authority to approve the exchange of detained or convicted foreigners with people held in other countries. Asked about the suggested swap on September 28, 2017, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said: "I can’t imagine that we would go down that road.... We have received extradition requests for [Gülen]." Anonymous US officials have said to reporters that the Turkish government has not yet provided sufficient evidence for the U.S. Justice Department to charge Gülen.[39]

President Trump and Turkish President Erdoğan give a joint statement at the White House in May 2017

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of America has called for a prayer and fasting October 7–8 for Brunson's release.[40]

On October 11, 2017, departing U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John R. Bass said Brunson "appears to be being held simply because he’s an American citizen who as a man of faith was in contact with a range of people in this country who he was trying to help, in keeping with his faith. And at a time when there were lots of interactions between many different people in society, and for some reason, some specific set of his interactions suddenly are being classified as support for terrorism, for membership in a terrorist organization. I have yet to see a consistent description of which specific terrorist organization he is supposed to be a member of. People don’t seem to have had a straight answer on that within the Turkish government. So for all those reasons, we believe he should be released. And U.S. government officials have continued to encourage the Turkish government to release him."[41]

In October 2017, Ihsan Ozbek, chairman of the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey, told the New York Times, "Andrew was a normal American Christian; he is not a spy. I know him[...]."[16]

On July 5, 2018, in anticipation of Pastor Brunson's third day of trial, 98 Members of the European Parliament, from all political groups and 21 countries, sent an open letter[42] to remind President Erdoğan of “the European and International commitments of the Republic of Turkey in regard to freedom of religion, to the prohibition of arbitrary detention, and to the right to a fair trial.” They especially protest “against the fact that Pastor Brunson had to wait almost a year and half before being indicted” and against “the fact that the indictment associates 'Christianization' with terrorism, considering the Christian faith as endangering Turkey’s unity, while Christianity has been peacefully present in this land long before the current Republic of Turkey.”[43]

On July 18, 2018, President Trump tweeted President Erdogan calling for Brunson's release. Trump called the Turkish government's refusal to release Brunson a "total disgrace," described him as being "held hostage" and defended Brunson against the government's accusations.[44]

On July 26, 2018, US Vice President Pence called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to release Brunson or face significant sanctions.[5] On the same day, President Trump released a tweet, stating that the United States would impose sanctions on Turkey due to Brunson's detention.[45]

On August 1, 2018, the U.S. Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on two top Turkish government officials who were involved in the detention of Brunson, Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.[46] Daniel Glaser, the former Treasury official under President Barack Obama, said: "It’s certainly the first time I can think of" the U.S. sanctioning a NATO ally. "I certainly regard it as a human rights violation to unlawfully detain somebody, so I think it falls within the scope of the Global Magnitsky Act."[47]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "A pastor becomes a pawn in a spat between America and Turkey". The Economist. 30 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Calls intensify for release of TEDS alumnus Andrew Brunson in Turkey". Trinity Newsroom. Trinity International University. 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2017-09-28. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |deadurl=, |subscription=, |separator=, |registration=, and |editors= (help)
  3. ^ "Turkey elections: Six arrested for 'insulting Erdogan' on social media ahead of major national polls". The Independent. 24 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Turkey orders detention of 132 people in coup probe: agency". Reuters. 26 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b c cnsnews.com: Pence to Turkey: Free Pastor Andrew Brunson or Face Sanctions
  6. ^ July 19, 2018: Trump Calls Incarcerated American Pastor a ‘Hostage,’ Urges Turkey’s Erdogan to Act
  7. ^ "US sanctions Turkey over Pastor Brunson detention". The National. August 1, 2018.
  8. ^ thehill.com August 1, 2018: Treasury targets Turkish officials with sanctions over detained US pastor (see also Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu).
  9. ^ a b Keating, Joshua (2017-05-15). "Andrew Brunson, the American pastor caught in Erdogan's crackdown". Slate.com. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  10. ^ Keating, Joshua (May 15, 2017). "Erdogan's Prisoner: How an American pastor, improbably accused of terrorism, became a pawn in U.S.-Turkey relations". Slate.
  11. ^ Chiaramonte, Perry (May 12, 2017). "Trump commits to securing American pastor's release from Turkish prison, family lawyer says". Fox News.
  12. ^ Barrow, Tzippe (April 19, 2017). "American Pastor Jailed in Turkey Asks Trump to End His Nightmare". Christian Broadcasting Network.
  13. ^ "American pastor jailed in Turkey turns to President Trump for help". March 30, 2017.
  14. ^ Keating, Joshua (August 25, 2017). "American Pastor Imprisoned in Turkey Faces New Charges". Slate.
  15. ^ "US Secretary of State Tillerson meets wife of American pastor jailed in Turkey". Assistnews.net. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  16. ^ a b Gall, Carlotta (2017-10-07). "Americans Jailed After Failed Coup in Turkey Are Hostages to Politics". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2017-10-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |registration=, |editors=, |deadurl=, |subscription=, and |separator= (help)
  17. ^ Gall, Carlotta (20 October 2017). "U.S.-Turkey Visa Standoff Disrupts Business and Tourism". Retrieved 17 April 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
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  20. ^ CBS/AP October 9, 2017, 10:04 AM (2017-10-09). "Turkey detains US consulate worker's family, accuses Donald Trump administration of "unnecessary escalation"". CBS News. Retrieved 2017-10-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ a b c "Turkey Postpones Hearing to July 18, Sends Pastor Andrew Brunson Back to Prison". United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  22. ^ Jackson, Griffin Paul. "Turkey Keeps American Pastor Behind Bars—At Least for Three More Months". Christianity Today. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  23. ^ a b c d e f Barrett, Mark. "Charges against Brunson contain a strange mix of conspiracy theories — and a food video". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  24. ^ "US Pastor Andrew Brunson Faces New Charges of Attempting to Overthrow Turkish Gov't". The Christian Post. 2017-08-27. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  25. ^ a b "Andrew Brunson: American Christian Pastor Imprisoned in Turkey". Be Heard Project. American Center for Law and Justice. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  26. ^ a b c d "US priest Brunson faces prison for espionage, aiding FETÖ, PKK terrorist groups". Daily Sabah. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g "U.S. preacher on trial in Turkey wanted Christian Kurdish state – anonymous witness". Ahval. Ahval. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  28. ^ Hurtas, Sibel (March 16, 2018). "Turkey doubles down in pastor row with US". Al-Monitor. Al-Monitor, LLC. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  29. ^ Diekmann, Patrick. "Der Pastor, der die Krise auslöste". T-Online. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  30. ^ "Erdoğan says would release US pastor if Gülen is handed over - Turkey Purge". 28 September 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  31. ^ "Trump Presses Turkey for Release of US 'Security Risk' Pastor". Voanews.com. 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  32. ^ "Congressional Leaders Seek Release of American Pastor Unjustly Detained in Turkey - Committee on Foreign Affairs". Foreignaffairs.house.gov. 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  33. ^ "Free American Pastor Andrew Brunson". American Center for Law and Justice. Retrieved July 15, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |registration=, |deadurl=, |subscription=, and |separator= (help)
  34. ^ "A pastor becomes a pawn in a spat between America and Turkey". Economist.com. 2017-09-30. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
  35. ^ 7:49 AM ET. "Turkey's Erdogan Suggests Swap: Jailed U.S. Pastor For Turkish Cleric : The Two-Way". NPR. Retrieved 2017-10-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ "Give us Gülen if you want arrested pastor Andrew Brunson to be freed: Erdoğan tells US". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  37. ^ nytimes.com: Turkey Rebuffs Trump, Won't Send Jailed US Pastor Back
  38. ^ "Erdogan Is Holding Andrew Brunson Hostage". The Daily Caller. 2017-09-28. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  39. ^ Friday 29 September 2017 02:09 UTC (2017-09-29). "Erdogan suggests freeing imprisoned US pastor for Gulen extradition". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2017-10-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ by epcepnews (2017-09-27). "Call to Prayer and Fasting to mark one year of Andrew Brunson imprisonment". EPConnection. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  41. ^ "Ambassador John R. Bass Press Round Table - Diplomatic Correspondents Association (October 11, 2017) | U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Turkey". Tr.usembassy.gov. 2017-10-11. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  42. ^ Open letter of 98 MEPs to President Erdoğan, 5 July 2018.
  43. ^ Malo Tresca, « Près de cent députés européens exigent la libération d’un pasteur américain emprisonné en Turquie », La Croix, 12 July 2018.
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  46. ^ "US sanctions Turkey over Pastor Brunson detention". The National. August 1, 2018.
  47. ^ "US sanctions Turkish officials over detained pastor". Politico. August 1, 2018.
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