US religious freedom body slams 'false allegations' against Pastor Andrew Brunson

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (ISCIRF) has said it is 'disappointed' by the decision of a Turkish court on Monday to continue proceedings in the case of Pastor Andrew Brunson.

Brunson has been in jail on terrorism and espionage charges because of an alleged association – denied by his defenders – with the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Gulen is wanted by the Turkish regime in connection with a failed coup attempt and thousands of his alleged supporters have been purged by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Brunson appeared in court on Monday but the trial will be delayed for three weeks.

USCIRF chairman Dr Daniel Mark said: 'Pastor Brunson is an innocent religious leader whose imprisonment for over 18 months on false allegations is an abomination. This latest development is yet another reason for the international community to condemn his imprisonment and for Congress and the administration to consider stronger steps against Turkey, including the imposition of targeted sanctions against those involved in this miscarriage of justice.'

Brunson, who has lived and worked in Turkey for 22 years, is faced with up to 35 years imprisonment. High-level US officials, including President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and former secretary of state Rex Tillerson have called for his release. Trump tweeted yesterday: 'Pastor Andrew Brunson, a fine gentleman and Christian leader in the United States, is on trial and being persecuted in Turkey for no reason. They call him a Spy, but I am more a Spy than he is. Hopefully he will be allowed to come home to his beautiful family where he belongs!'

In 2017, USCIRF placed Turkey on its Tier 2 for violations of religious freedom and began advocating for Pastor Brunson as a part of its Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project.