4 hours agoErdogan, Trumpit: Give us Gulen, give him the imprisoned pastor
Periskopi(9 years ago)
(9 years ago)Authorities in Turkey say American pastor Andrew will be released Brunson, who has been held in custody for nearly a year, if the United States will extradite Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for last year's failed coup. They say give us the pastor! You have a preacher there. [...]
Authorities in Turkey say American pastor Andrew will be released Brunson, who has been held in custody for nearly a year, if the United States will extradite Muslim cleric Fetullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for last year's failed coup.
They say give us the pastor! You have a preacher there. Hand it over and we will try to give Brunson”, Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan said in a televised address.
Andrew. Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for 23 years, as well as his wife, Norine, were arrested in October 2016 for alleged immigration status violations.
His wife was acquitted as the charges against the pastor were strengthened by adding to the alleged support of cleric Gulen's network, which Turkey has labeled as representative of a terrorist organisation.
Andrew. Brunson and his wife conducted a Christian church in the Turkish city of Izmir.
During his visit to Ankara last month, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said pastor Brunson was unjustly imprisoned “”.
A August decree last year empowered President Erdogan to extradite foreigners in exchange for Turkish prisoners abroad, to a “situals considered necessary for national security or for domestic interests”.
Turkey has repeatedly urged the United States to extradite cleric Fetullah Gulen, who is in Pennsylvania. / VoA
