Turkish court hears witnesses at trial of US pastor

ALIAGA, Turkey (Reuters) – A Turkish court on Friday heard witnesses of the trial of US pastor Andrew Brunson, a case in the heart of a diplomatic dispute between Washington and Ankara, after the media announced it. could be released and returned to the United States. States.

The case against Brunson, an evangelical preacher from North Carolina who has been living in Turkey for more than 20 years, has resulted in US sanctions and tariffs against Turkey and has been condemned by US President Donald Trump.

The Trump administration said Thursday it hoped to release Brunson at the hearing, but the State Department said he was unaware of any deal with the Turkish government for his release.

The pastor is accused of links with Kurdish militants and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, a cleric accused by Turkey of being responsible for a failed coup d'état attempt in 2016. He denied Accusation – just like Gulen – and Washington demanded his immediate release.

Brunson appeared in the audience hall of Aliaga, a coastal city in the west, dressed in a black suit, a white shirt and a red tie. . His wife Norine watched the visitors' room as he listened to the testimony of the defense and prosecution witnesses.

"I do not understand how this relates to me," Brunson said after the judge interviewed one of the witnesses who were heard before a lunch break. He said the judge asked the witness about incidents that Brunson was not involved in.

The detention of Brunson has dug a gap between NATO allies, Washington and Ankara, who are also at odds over the war in Syria and the Turkish plan to buy missile defenses to Russia. The conflict also exacerbated the decline in the value of the lira, which lost 40% against the dollar this year.

The lira rallied to 5.8 against the dollar Friday, supported by expectations of his release.

A NBC media announced Thursday that a secret agreement between Washington and Ankara had been reached to secure Brunson's release. Reuters could not verify the report independently and the US State Department said it was unaware of such an agreement.

In prison or under house arrest since October 2016, Brunson faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted. Last month, the trial's chief prosecutor was replaced, a move that his lawyer cautiously welcomed, saying it could be a sign of a change in political will.

The case also highlighted concerns over the independence of Turkish justice under President Tayyip Erdogan, who suggested that Brunson be released in exchange for Gulen, based in the United States.

Despite pressure from the Trump administration, Erdogan insisted he had no influence over the judiciary and that the courts would decide Brunson's fate.