Turkeys Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday the US administration should leave aside “wrongful rhetoric” and return to “constructive dialogue” after US President Donald Trump warned of sanctions unless Ankara freed an American pastor.
“It is impossible to accept the US Administrations threatening messages, which totally disregard our alliance and friendly relations between our countries,” spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a written statement.
Trump: US to impose sanctions on Turkey
President Donald Trump said the United States will impose sanctions on NATO ally Turkey over a detained American pastor held on terror and espionage charges.
Shortly after the possibility of sanctions was first announced by Vice President Mike Pence Thursday, Trump wrote on Twitter that the US “will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson.”
The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson, a great Christian, family man and wonderful human being. He is suffering greatly. This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2018
“He is suffering greatly. This innocent man of faith should be released immediately!” the president added from aboard Air Force One as he flew to Iowa for an event.
Turkeys foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, quickly responded, also via Twitter: “No one dictates Turkey. We will never tolerate threats from anybody. Rule of law is for everyone; no exception.”
Noone dictates Turkey. We will never tolerate threats from anybody. Rule of law is for everyone; no exception.
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) July 26, 2018
Pences initial announcement of possible sanctions came at the close of a three-day conference on religious freedom.
Brunson, 50, an evangelical Christian pastor originally from North Carolina, was let out of jail on Wednesday, after 1 1/2 years, to serve house arrest because of “health problems,” according to Turkeys official Anadolu news agency.
“Brunson is an innocent man, there is no credible evidence against him,” Pence said.
Spoke by phone w/ Pastor Andrew Brunson after his release from prison in Turkey. While out of prison, this man of faith is still under house arrest. Assured him @POTUS & our entire Admin will keep working to secure his full release & get him back to the USA #FreePastorBrunson
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) July 26, 2018
Trump said on Twitter last week that the pastors detention was “a total disgrace.” One of Brunsons attorneys is Jay Sekulow, who also represents Trump in the Russia investigation.
If convicted, Brunson faces up to 15 years in prison for “committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member,” references to outlawed Kurdish militants and the network of a US-based Muslim cleric blamed for a failed coup attempt. He could receive another 20 years if he is found guilty of espionage.
Brunson denies the charges.
US senators previously pushed to block the sale of F-35 jets to Turkey, citing Brunsons detention as one instance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans disregard for the rule of law.
Pences announcement of possible sanctions was delivered at a conference on religious freedom in Washington. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also spoke at the conference.
Pence highlighted cases of what he said was religious repression in Nicaragua, Iran, North Korea, China and Myanmar. He also condemned ISIS group violence toward religious minorities and what he described as rising anti-Semitism in Europe.
Pompeo announced additional aid for a region of Iraq previously held by the ISIS group. Pompeo said the department would provide $17 million for de-mining efforts in Nineveh, an area of Iraq historically home to many of Iraqs religious minorities.
Ties between NATO allies Turkey and the United States have been strained by the pastor Brunson case.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously linked Brunsons return to the US to the extradition of cleric Fethullah Gulen, the cleric Turkeys government holds responsible for a failed July 2016 military coup.
Gulen, who denies orchestrating the coup attempt, lives in Pennsylvania. Turkish requests for his arrest and extradition have not been granted.
Brunson served as pastor of Izmir Resurrection Church, a small Protestant congregation, and has lived in Turkey for 23 years. He was detained by Turkish forces in the aftermath of the failed coup, The indictment against him contends he worked to convert Kurds to Christianity to sow discord in Turkey.
More than 77,000 people were arrested across Turkey after the government declared a state of emergency following the failed 2016 coup. The crackdown has targeted journalists, activists and opposition figures.
Brunson rejected evidence against him during a recent hearing, according to Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency.
“I believe in and support Turkeys territorial integrity,” he told the court. “I forgive those who lie and bear false witness against me.”Brunsons case has been adjourned until Oct. 12.
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Last Update: Thursday, 26 July 2018 KSA 21:01 – GMT 18:01
