A Turkish court refused on Wednesday to release American Pastor Andrew Brunson from his nearly 2-year imprisonment, despite mounting evidence that the indictment against him is a patchwork of poorly crafted fiction and anti-Christian slurs.
President Donald summed up the travesty succinctly, "A total disgrace that Turkey will not release a respected U.S. Pastor Andrew Brunson from prison. He has been held hostage far too long. @RT_Erdogan should do something to free this wonderful Christian husband & father. He has done nothing wrong and his family needs him!"
President Trump鈥檚 voice joined that of other well-informed observers who are equally outraged by the pastor鈥檚 unjust imprisonment.
Brunson was arrested in October of 2016 and charged with participation with the "Fethullahist Terror Organization" (FET脰), a group the Turkish government holds responsible for a failed 2016 coup attempt.
He is also accused of affiliation with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers鈥� Party (PKK).
To date no evidence beyond hearsay has been presented to support the accusations.
If found guilty, Rev. Brunson faces up to 35 years in prison.
The pastor鈥檚 indictment cobbles together a dizzying collection of blatant falsehoods, absurd theological distortions, and to overthrow the Turkish government.
The entire text of the indictment, in both Turkish and English, .
Reflecting the spuriousness of Turkey鈥檚 claims, the U.S. Government has been openly seeking Rev. Brunson鈥檚 release from Day One, including statements by President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and several senators and congressmen.
Over demanding his release.
On July 18, Philip Kosnett, U.S. charge d鈥檃ffaires in Turkey, : "I鈥檝e read the indictment, I鈥檝e attended three hearings. I don鈥檛 believe that there is any indica:tion that Pastor is guilty of any sort of criminal or terrorist activity. Our government remains deeply concerned about his status, as well as 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."
Yet despite flimsy evidence and U.S. government protests 鈥� including congressional threats to deny shipment of F-35 aircraft to Turkey鈥檚 military 鈥� Brunson remains behind bars.
In a remarkably blunt statement, (USCIRF) Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga declared, "The government of Turkey continues to make a mockery of justice in its treatment of Pastor Brunson. Today I was hoping to see the judge order his complete release and put an end to the miscarriage of justice that Pastor Brunson鈥檚 entire case represents. Turkish authorities still have not provided one good reason for depriving Pastor Brunson of his liberties. The Trump Administration and the Congress should continue to apply pressure, including using targeted sanctions against officials connected to this case, until Pastor Brunson is released."
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies鈥� Turkey expert Aykan Erdemir told Newsmax:
"Pastor Brunson is one of the dozens of Western nationals and residents who have been arrested in the aftermath of Turkey鈥檚 2016 abortive coup to be used as bargaining chips as part of President Erdogan鈥檚 hostage diplomacy. Erdogan admitted himself that he is interested in using Brunson as part of a swap deal with the U.S.
"I consider Erdogan鈥檚 hostage diplomacy the worst foreign policy tactic in the history of the Turkish Republic. It has damaged Turkey鈥檚 global image and put the country in the same league with rogue states such as Iran and North Korea."
Meanwhile, , "Court Ruling on Jailed U.S. Pastor Sends Turkish Assets Tumbling," described the judgment鈥檚 economic toll, "Turkish assets had been rallying on optimism that Andrew Brunson, whose jailing is a key source of tension between the allied countries, would be set free or deported at the hearing on Wednesday.
"His continued detention has traders bracing for the unknown, as the U.S. prepares a response. Members of Congress and the Senate have been publicly urging stronger actions against Turkey, including sanctions, should Brunson, other American citizens, and Turkish employees of the U.S. diplomatic mission continue to be held in jails."
that the U.S. Congress is threatening to introduce sanctions on Turkey if the pastor is not released.
"Several members of Congress have accused Turkey of hostage taking by seeking to use Brunson as diplomatic leverage. Adding to Congress鈥檚 anger, three local employees of U.S. diplomatic missions in Turkey are also being held on terrorism charges. . . . Observers warn the continued detention of Brunson now increases the likelihood of Washington imposing measures against Ankara."
I asked U.S.-based Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut for her insights about Turkey鈥檚 seemingly arrogant and unyielding stance:
"Erdogan鈥檚 regime is punishing Pastor Brunson for being a Christian and an American citizen," she explained. "The Turkish government is using Brunson as a bargaining chip to make the U.S. administration extradite Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric who was once Erdogan鈥檚 ally. And pro-government media in Turkey is viciously demonizing Brunson as a 'terrorist leader' and a 'spy' hostile to Turkey.鈥�
Uzay Bulut continued, "These things are happening in a country which is a NATO member that considers itself a worthy candidate to belong to the EU. Turkish government officials think that no matter what they do, they will never be held accountable. And, in fact, the long-standing impunity for Turkey鈥檚 past and present crimes is what makes Turkey behave in such an irresponsible and unethical way."