The recent refusal by a Turkish court to release Andrew Brunson, an American pastor imprisoned in Turkey since October 2016 on multiple terrorism charges, is casting yet another dark shadow over US-Turkish relations already marred by mutual resentment over a number of differences. The problem with the Brunson case involves its complicated political-legal backdrop and two radically different judicial systems. Also influencing thinking on the Brunson case are a number of additional US-Turkish legal entanglements concerning criminal cases with political overtones.
The indictment against Brunson accuses him of being a sympathizer of the Gulenist movement, headed by Fethullah Gulen, the self-exiled Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom Ankara says masterminded the failed coup in July 2016. Turkey’s ongoing demand for Gulen’s extradition has emerged as the main political issue complicating the Brunson case. Brunson is also accused of being a sympathizer of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The prosecutor is seeking up to 35 years in prison for Brunson for espionage, under the guise of missionary work, aimed at overthrowing the elected government. Nevertheless, it was widely expected that Brunson, a Christian missionary from Black Mountain, North Carolina, who ran a small church in Izmir, on Turkey's Aegean coast, would be released after a July 18 hearing, pending a verdict against him.
The hearing followed a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Donald Trump during the recent NATO summit in Brussels, held July 11-12. This was followed up by a phone conversation between the two presidents that reportedly included discussion of Brunson's case.
AL-MONITOR All-Access gives you unlimited access to all our journalism, the full Daily Briefing, exclusive interviews, premium newsletters, and live events — for less than $2/week.
