Trump urges Erdoğan to free US pastor jailed on terror charges
09:15, 19/07/2018, ThursdayU: Update: 09:20, 19/07/2018, Thursday
Yeni ŞafakREUTERS
Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Prosecutors demand up to 35-year jail term for Andrew Brunson for allegedly committing crimes for terror groups
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to "do something" to free American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been jailed in Turkey on terrorism and spying charges.
"A total disgrace that Turkey will not release a respected U.S. Pastor, Andrew Brunson, from prison. He has been held hostage far too long," Trump said on Twitter.
Erdoğan "should do something to free this wonderful Christian husband & father. He has done nothing wrong," Trump said.
Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor from North Carolina who has lived in Turkey for over two decades, was indicted on charges of helping Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), as well as supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Brunson as arrested in Izmir on Dec. 9, 2016. He is accused of carrying out espionage and organizational activities across Turkey under the guise of missionary operations, being linked to FETÖ and PKK members, and interfering into Turkey’s internal affairs.
FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.