US Pastor Goes On Trial In Turkey, Further Straining Relations
An American pastor on Monday denied accusations that he aided terror groups or spied against Turkey, speaking at the beginning of his trial in a case that has strained ties between Turkey and the United States.
ACLU chief Jay Sekulow said, "Instead of being returned to the prison [after Monday's hearing] where he had been held most recently, the judge ordered Pastor Andrew to be taken back to an overcrowded and extremely grim prison where he was held initially". The pastor faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted of the espionage-related crimes.
"On the contrary, I love Turkey".
On April 16, a Turkish court ruled to keep him in custody, deeming him to be a flight risk. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and US religious freedom envoy Sam Brownback.
He is accused of supporting the attempted 2016 coup of the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by aligning himself with two organisations that the Turkish government considers to be terrorist: the FETO network of Gülen, and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party.
"The United States cares deeply about our relationship with Turkey", Brownback said at Brunson's hearing, according to Reuters.
Both the Gulen movement and the PKK are banned by Turkey as terror groups.
Turkey also claims Brunson passed along state secrets and intelligence that might be useful in the event of a war, such as the location of railway stations.
"We have seen no credible evidence that Mr. Brunson is guilty of a crime and are convinced that he is innocent", spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.
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The ruling was based on evidence given by witnesses in the case and the risk that Brunson might flee the country. Brownback pledged "very high-level U.S. government interest in this until [Brunson] is released".
In an indication of the importance of the case for Washington, his hearing on Monday was attended by Sam Brownback, the U.S. ambassador at large for religious freedom, and Senator Thom Tillis from Brunson's home state of North Carolina.
"I did not engage in any illegal activity".
The case has raised tensions - further - between the USA and Turkey, which in recent years has been regressing toward a Shariah-compliant theocracy. "I have been praying for Turkey for 25 years". As reports have noted, the two countries are also divided on Kurdish activity in Syria, which borders Turkey to the south.
"That relationship is going to have difficulty in moving forward as long as Andrew Brunson is incarcerated", Brownback told reporters at the courthouse.
Washington has called for Brunson's release while Erdogan suggested past year his fate could be linked to that of US -based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose extradition Ankara has repeatedly sought to face charges over the coup attempt. We are grateful for everyone who has stood with us during the legal battle.
"I am a Christian". I would not join an Islamic movement", Brunson said, adding that the 18 months he has spent in a maximum security prison has left his "psychology broken.
Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania, has denied involvement in the coup.
Global observers have noted that Erdogan has exhibited animosity towards Christians, a small minority in Muslim-majority Turkey. Sam Brownback, the U.S. Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom.
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