19 April 2018

Trial put on hold for American pastor accused of espionage in Turkey

After his first day in court on Monday (16 April), American pastor Andrew Brunson must wait three weeks in an overcrowded prison before his trial can continue. When he appeared in court this week, Andrew rejected all the claims that have been made against him of links to terrorist organisations and espionage against the Turkish state. He is accused of helping a group led by Fethullah Gulen, an exiled Muslim preacher who is accused of being behind the failed 2016 coup. If convicted, he faces 35 years in prison.

Joshua
Open Doors Team

After his first day in court on Monday (16 April), American pastor Andrew Brunson, accused of espionage and links to terrorist groups, must wait three weeks in an overcrowded prison before his trial can continue.

Andrew (50) has lived in Turkey with his family for 25 years, and was leading a Protestant church, Izmir Resurrection Church, in the Turkish city of Izmir before his arrest.

Andrew and his wife Norine were originally arrested on 7 October 2016 and held in an immigration holding facility pending deportation. Norine was subsequently released, but Andrew was detained without bail due to allegations linking him to ‘terrorist groups’ and accusing him of ‘missionary activities’. If convicted, he faces 35 years in prison.

‘Arrested due to his faith’

When he appeared in court this week, Andrew rejected all the claims that have been made against him of links to terrorist organisations and espionage against the Turkish state. He is accused of helping a group led by Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim preacher who is accused of being behind the failed 2016 coup and currently lives in America.

Andrew stated that he is a servant of God, and his motive in coming to Turkey was to preach Jesus Christ and raise disciples. He emphasised that he loved Turkey, has been praying for the country for 25 years and has done nothing wrong.

Andrew’s Turkish lawyer, Ismail Cem Halavurt, told Reuters that prosecutors interpret the pastor’s religious work as ‘aiding terror organisations’. “There is evidence that shows Brunson was arrested due to his faith,” Reuters quoted Halavurt as saying.

‘An overcrowded and extremely grim prison’

The day’s hearing ended with the court ordering Andrew back to a prison where nearly two dozen inmates are held in a cell designed for eight, according to the American Centre for Law and Justice, an advocacy agency that is supporting the pastor’s defence.

“Instead of being returned to the prison where he had been held most recently, the judge ordered Pastor Andrew to be taken back to an overcrowded and extremely grim prison where he was held initially,” said the centre’s chief counsel, Jay Sekulow. “As you can imagine, the news is devastating to Pastor Andrew and his family.”

In the months that he has languished in jail, Andrew has lost 50 pounds and missed the marriage of his daughter.

Thankful for prayer

Ahead of the trail, Andrew's wife, Norine, wrote a message to thank people for their prayers:

"I believe that this is a huge spiritual battle over this country (Turkey) and what God wants to do here. Andrew is at the tip of it, but it is much bigger than us. So that is very intimidating to me and I have really struggled with fear. I am trying to keep coming back to the encouragement of a huge cloud of witnesses praying and fasting.

"I am humbled and touched by the outpouring of love from the body of Christ. Who are we that God put us on so many people's hearts (when so many are in prison and possibly no one even knows)? I have some hope, but am afraid of getting my hopes up too much - hope deferred makes the heart sick. I so miss Andrew. I so want this to be over for my kids' sake. We want to be together again."

Strained relations between Turkey and America

Andrew's detention is deepening a political rift between Turkey and America as the two governments argue over military action in Syria, Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen's continued residence in the United States and the erosion of human rights in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Last September, President Erdogan had suggested publicly to the US that it swap ‘your pastor’ (Andrew Brunson) in exchange for Turkey’s demanded US extradition of ‘our cleric’ (Fethullah Gulen) to Turkey. But the US judiciary contends that there is a lack of hard, credible evidence required under US laws to extradite a legal permanent resident of the US back to Turkey.

Sam Brownback, the US ambassador at large for religious freedoms was present during Andrew's court hearing. He told journalists, "That relationship (between the US and Turkey) is going to have difficulty in moving forward as long as Andrew Brunson is incarcerated."