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Ismail Cem Halavurt, the lawyer of Andrew Craig Brunson imprisoned in Izmir, in western Turkey, arrives at the Aliaga prison complex, in the province of Izmir, in west of Turkey, where his client is appearing in court. inside the complex, Wednesday, July 18, 2018. The 50-year-old evangelical pastor from Black Mountain, North Carolina faces a 35-year prison sentence in Turkey for "committing crimes on behalf of terrorist groups" without being a member "and" espionage ".
ANKARA, Turkey – A Turkish court again on Wednesday rejected a request for release Andrew Craig Brunson, an evangelical pastor of 50-year-old Black Mountain, North Carolina, was arrested following the arrest of an American pastor based in Turkey, accused of having aided terrorist groups and committed suicide attacks. espionage
. of a coup attempt in 2016 to allege links with the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), as well as a network led by the Muslim American religious Fethullah Gulen, that the Turkey attributes to these disorders.
Brunson, sentenced to 35 years in prison for "committing crimes on behalf of terrorist groups without being a member" and "spying", strongly denies the charges Gulen denied any involvement in the attempted coup d'etat
At the end of the third hearing, the Aliaga court, in western Turkey, dismissed Brunson 's lawyer' s application to be released pending trial. Trial result.The case was adjourned until October 12.
Brunson's case added to the already tense Turkey-US with some US politicians calling for sanctions against the Turkey if Brunson is not released
US President Donald Trump tweeted in Brunson's defense on Wednesday night, calling it "utter disgrace" that Brunson be detained. " did nothing wrong, and his family needed him! "
The Brunson case was one of the questions Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on the phone earlier this week
. The American diplomat in Turkey expressed his disappointment
"I read the indictment.I attended three hearings.I do not believe that there there is no indication that Pastor Brunson is guilty of any criminal or terrorist activity, "said Philip Kosnett, charge d'affaires at the US Embassy. "Our government remains deeply concerned about its status."
Kosnett added, "We have great faith in the Turkish people's involvement in justice and will be following this case closely and hope that Pastor Brunson will soon be reunited with his family."
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert reiterated the administration's appeal to the liberation of Brunson
"We believe that he is innocent "said Nauert. "We continue to call on the Turkish government to quickly resolve this matter in a timely, transparent and fair manner."
During the hearing, Brunson rejected the evidence against him given by two witnesses, who were not named and who claimed the pastor supported the Kurdish activists, reported. Government Agency Anadolu Agency
"I believe and support the territorial integrity of Turkey," said Mr. Brunson. "I forgive those who lie and bear false testimony against me."
Brunson was pastor of the Resurrection Church of Izmir, a small Protestant congregation, and has lived in Turkey for 23 years.
Jail sentence for crimes Brunson is accused of having committed on behalf of the Gulen group and the PKK. They want the pastor to serve another 20 years when he is also found guilty of obtaining state secrets for the purpose of political and military spying, using his religious work as a cover.
The indictment against him – based on the testimony of three witnesses the secrets, and the digital evidence – says that the pastor worked to convert the Kurds to Christianity to sow discord in Turkey.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This document may not be published, distributed, rewritten or redistributed.
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