Turkey will not accept US threats over detained pastor: Çavuşoğlu
The U.S.'governments use of threatening language is unacceptable, Turkish foreign minister said after U.S. President Donald Trump said will impose economic sanctions on Ankara if it does not release terror-linked pastor Andrew Brunson is released.
- World
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 12:00 | 26 July 2018
- Modified Date: 08:32 | 26 July 2018
Turkey on Thursday slammed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump after he threatened the country with sanctions unless Ankara releases a detained American pastor.
"No one dictates Turkey. We will never tolerate threats from anybody. Rule of law is for everyone; no exception," Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted.
In an attempt to interfere with NATO-member Turkey's judiciary, Trump tweeted: "The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson."
Brunson was transferred to house arrest Wednesday after being detained in the Aegean province of Izmir in December 2016. He was charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group Turkey accuses of orchestrating the defeated July 2016 coup attempt.
Earlier, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in a tweet threatened to impose "significant sanctions on Turkey until this innocent man of faith is free."