American pastor Brunson charged in Turkey put under house arrest
A Turkish court on Wednesday ruled to place under house arrest an American pastor who has been imprisoned for almost two years on terror-related charges in a case that has raised tensions with the United States, state media said.
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- Published Date: 12:00 | 25 July 2018
- Modified Date: 03:48 | 25 July 2018
Turkey's official news agency says an American pastor imprisoned for nearly two years on terror and espionage charges will be put under house arrest as his trial continues.
Anadolu news agency said Wednesday Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, a 50-year-old evangelical pastor from Black Mountain, North Carolina would continue to be remanded at his house.
The case has strained ties between NATO allies Turkey and the United States. President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded his release.
Brunson was arrested in Aegean province of Izmir in December 2016; he was charged with committing crimes, including spying for the PKK terror group and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup attempt of July 2016.
The Izmir 2nd High Criminal Court decided to turn Brunson's detention into house arrest due to his "health problems".
Turkish prosecutors are seeking 35-year jail term for Brunson.
The court decided to allow Brunson to live at his address in Izmir, but barred him from "abandonment of residence" and also imposed a ban on him leaving the country.