US Pastor placed under house arrest in Turkey
A Turkish penal court on Wednesday issued a ruling
to place under house arrest US Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who was behind bars
since December 2016, in Turkey, Al Hurra TV reported.
Brunson has been facing up to 15 years in prison on
charge of "committing crimes in the name of a terrorist organization as a
non-member" and up to 20 years in prison on charge of
"espionage."
Earlier, US President Donald Trump denounced the
ruling for continuation of US Pastor Brunson's arrest with the following tweet
on July 19: "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. Erdogan should do something to free this wonderful Christian husband
& father. He has done nothing wrong, and his family needs him!"
Speaking to the CBN, US Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo also said, "It is time for Pastor Brunson to come back home and be
free."
