US pastor on trial for alleged terror ties, spying in Turkey

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

US pastor on trial for alleged terror ties, spying in Turkey
Zeynep Bilginsoy, Associated Press Updated 7:19 am, Sunday, April 15, 2018

ISTANBUL (AP) — An American pastor imprisoned in Turkey is going on trial for alleged terror ties and spying in a case that has increased tensions between Washington and Ankara.

Andrew Craig Brunson, an evangelical pastor from North Carolina, is facing 35 years in prison on charges of "committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member" and "espionage." The trial begins Monday in western Izmir province.

He was arrested in December 2016 for alleged links to both an outlawed Kurdish insurgent group and the network of the U.S.-based Muslim cleric who Turkey blames for a masterminding a failed military coup that year. The cleric, Fethullah Gulen, denies the claim.

Brunson has denied all allegations and maintains that he solely worked as a pastor

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/US-pastor-on-trial-for-alleged-terror-ties-12835464.php

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pastor Andrew Craig Brunson

[LeftInTX]

1. That's awful -sounds like something that would happen in Iran

[mercuryblues]

2. I certainly hope he is not

depending on our State Department or trump Oval Office to use diplomacy and negotiate his release. Maybe Flynn can get a rescue squad there. Oh. wait. He probably turned him over.

[CanonRay]

3. One less religious zealot to deal with here as far as I'm concerned

good riddance. I know that sounds harsh, but I'm sick to death of these hypocrites.

[ChiTownDenny]

4. An American pastor in Turkey...

Because Muslims asked to be evangelized. Enjoy your "Midnight Express".

[keithbvadu2]

5. Evangelical pastor not on trial for child molesting? That's News!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. Hostage taking by the Erdogan regime

[Cold War Spook]

7. As far as the Turkish government is concerned,

Kurdish separatists are terrorists.