Turkish court keeps U.S. pastor in jail on terror, spying charges

Philip Kosnett (center), the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Ankara, Turkey, leaves a prison complex in Aliaga after attending the trial Wednesday of jailed American pastor Andrew Brunson.
Philip Kosnett (center), the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Ankara, Turkey, leaves a prison complex in Aliaga after attending the trial Wednesday of jailed American pastor Andrew Brunson.

A Turkish court refused to release an American pastor from jail, fanning tensions with Washington and sending the lira sliding on fears of U.S. retaliation.

At Wednesday's hearing, the prosecution brought forth two witnesses who claimed that Pastor Andrew Brunson had ties with separatist Kurdish militants. At the end of the session, the court adjourned the trial until Oct. 12, and rejected a request by Brunson's attorney to release him from the jail near the western city of Izmir where he's been held for two years.

"We are disappointed in the results of today's hearing," the top U.S. diplomat in Turkey, Charge d'Affaires Philip Kosnett, told reporters in Izmir province after the hearing. "My government remains deeply concerned about his status, as well as the status of other American citizens and Turkish local employees of the U.S. diplomatic mission who have been detained under state of emergency rules."

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Foreign Ministry said after the court decision.

The detention of the pastor, who denies any wrongdoing, has added to a long list of issues straining ties between NATO allies Turkey and the U.S. Turkey has been demanding that the U.S. extradite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in Pennsylvania who Turkey says masterminded a coup attempt.

The U.S. has threatened consequences if Turkey doesn't release Americans imprisoned in the government's post-coup crackdown, including the pastor.

President Donald Trump tweeted in Brunson's defense Wednesday night, calling it "a total disgrace" that Brunson is being held. "He has done nothing wrong, and his family needs him!"

In Washington, State Department spokesman Heather Nauert reiterated the administration's call for Brunson to be released.

"We believe he is innocent," Nauert said. "We continue to call on the Turkish government to quickly resolve this case in a timely and transparent and fair manner."

Brunson has been imprisoned since the failed coup attempt of July 2016, charged with espionage and aiding Islamic and Kurdish terrorist groups. Markets had been expecting him to be deported at Wednesday's hearing, and the extension of his jail time sent the lira sinking as much as 0.9 percent against the dollar amid concerns the U.S. would respond with sanctions. Earlier in the day it had climbed to a one week high on speculation he'd be released.

"I support Turkey and Turkey's territorial unity against the [Kurdistan Workers' Party] and whoever else is targeting its unity," Brunson told the court Wednesday. "I am innocent of all the allegations, but I know why I am here."

Information for this article was contributed by staff members of The Associated Press.

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AP file photo

In this undated file photo, Andrew Brunson, an American pastor, stands in Izmir, Turkey.

A Section on 07/19/2018

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