North Carolina Pastor Andrew Brunson Reportedly Set to be Released by Turkish Government
According to NBC News, North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson will be released by the Turkish government and returned to the United States after years in detention for allegedly helping terrorist groups.
NEW: Exclusive: White House expects N.C. pastor Andrew Brunson to be released by the Turkish government and returned to the U.S. in coming days, two years after he was detained, according to two senior administration officials and another person briefed. https://t.co/BJQNUuDTtO
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 11, 2018
“We continue to believe Pastor Brunson is innocent and the hearing on Friday is another opportunity for the Turkish judicial system to free an American citizen,” a senior administration official told NBC News.
Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years and ran a protestant church in Izmir, was detained in October 2016 and accused of helping those responsible for the failed coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
NBC News reports, citing senior administration officials and an individual briefed on the matter, that “under an agreement recently reached with Turkey, Brunson is supposed to be released after certain charges against him are dropped at his next court hearing.”
That hearing is currently scheduled for Friday.
A senior Trump administration official said, however, that the administration is “not fully confident” Turkey will oblige by the terms of the agreement.
In August, a Turkish court rejected an appeal for Brunson’s release, leading to economic sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump and souring relations between the two NATO allies.
NBC News reports that while the reasons for the sudden cooperation from Turkey are unclear, speculation is that Turkey is looking to ease the economic pressure that exists as a result of Brunson’s situation.
Sources told NBC that negotiations regarding Brunson’s release between Turkish and U.S. officials — which included Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton — were “advanced in discussions” in September at the UN General Assembly.
Administrations officials have said Brunson’s release “would be a significant step towards mending ties between the U.S. and Turkey.”
[featured photo via Getty Images]
