Alwaght- A Turkish court has rejected an appeal for US Christian pastor Andrew Brunson to be released from house arrest during his trial on terrorism charges, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported on Tuesday.
The İzmir Second Heavy Penalty Court said in its ruling the “strong criminal suspicions” against the suspect had not changed their nature.
“Although the suspect has been released from the jail he was imprisoned, this does not mean there has been a change in the evidence against him,” the court said.
Brunson, who has been living in Turkey for more than two decades, was accused of helping supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric who Turkish authorities say masterminded the 2016 coup attempt.
He was also charged with supporting outlawed PKK Kurdish militants and espionage. Brunson’s lawyer, Ismail Cem Halavurt, had not been notified of a court ruling, Reuters said.
The pastor was released for house arrest on July 25 after being held for 21 months in a Turkish prison. The court ordered him to wear an electronic bracelet at all times and barred him from traveling outside of the country.
Brunson faces up to 35 years in jail if found guilty of the charges.
The next hearing in his trial is not scheduled until Oct. 12, but his lawyer Ismail Cem Halavurt said he would keep pressing for Brunson’s release. “We are going to request his house arrest be lifted every month,” he told Reuters.
US President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to impose “large sanctions” on Turkey unless it frees the pastor.
