US imposes sanctions on two Turkish ministers

The United States imposed sanctions against two Turkish ministers because of holding a pastor in prison.

Christian pastor Andrew Brunson, 50, has been arrested since 2016 on charges of terrorism.

United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Turkey with sanctions if he does not release the pastor, whom he has named <x0 innocent man”.

The sanctions hit Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, and Interior Minister Sulejman Soylu, whom the White House accused of “leading “in the arrest of Brunson and for “serious human rights in Turkey”.

Sanctions freeze any US property that belongs to Gul and Soyle and prevent American individuals from doing business with them.

Gul wrote on Twitter that “has no quarter either in the US or anywhere else outside Turkey”.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry accused Washington of “disrespectful interventions into the justice system” and said “would be avenged without delay”.

Turkey's President, Recep Tayip Erdogan, has suggested that Brunson could trade for Fetullah Gulen, a religious clergyman living in US exile.

Ankara blames Gulen for orchestrating an effort for Puch in Turkey in July 2016.

Washington says there is not enough evidence to extradite Gulen.