U.S. pastor Andrew Craig Brunson (C)
Secret witnesses in the case of U.S. pastor Andrew Craig Brunson have come forth with shocking claims, alleging that he welcomed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) sympathizers and organized secret meetings at the Evangelical Resurrection Church.
In a statement dated July 20, 2017, M.C. stated that he became Christian 13 years ago at a church in Turkey’s Izmir and consistently attended congregations. M.C. met Brunson and someone called Erik Wiger in 2008 at the Resurrection Church, and observed that the pastor attempted to Christianize Kurds while Wiger was constantly traveling overseas.
Brunson and Wiger could be U.S. intelligence agents
“I clearly saw in the masses I attended that these individuals (Brunson and Wiger) had serious plans for the Kurdish people. They were very interested in them. When Erik Wiger was in Turkey, he especially conducted activities in the southeast. I heard this from H.T., who met with him in Turkey and is also a Christian who serves in the Navy. I think that Brunson and Wiger work for American intelligence services. These individuals always support Kurds in Turkey and used to say that ‘South Kurdistan’ would be established,” M.C. said in the indictment.
Shocking details that emerged from the trial of U.S. pastor Andew Craig Brunson have shed new light on his ties to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) through a Belgium-based pastor, whom Brunson refers to as his “godson.” Brunson's charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the defeated coup attempt in Turkey of July 2016. Several court statements referred to a pastor known as Mohammad Ahmad as being Brunson’s link to terror organizations such as the PKK and its Syria affiliate, the People’s Protection Units (YPG). Before his arrest, Brunson referred to Mohammad Ahmad as his godson and had personally married Ahmad to his current missionary wife Loes Truffle.Relations between Ankara and Washington have soured in recent weeks following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Turkish officials over the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is under house arrest in Turkey on terrorism charges. According to new details that emerged from several witnesses in Brunson’s trial, Ahmad and his brother, known as “Agid,” are involved in espionage activities.Mohammad Ahmad, who was serving as a pastor in Brunson’s church, was dispatched to Belgium before the latter’s arrest and is serving at a church there.US disregard of legal process unacceptable: presidential aideUS pastor's lawyer plans appeal to Turkish constitutional court Among the shocking details that emerged was that on numerous occasions across Ahmad’s social media accounts, he had referred to Brunson’s church in İzmir, which is formally known as the Church of Resurrection, as the İzmir Christian Kurdish Church (Dera Kurden Mesihi- İzmir.)Posts published on Ahmad’s social media accounts show him referring to Fetullah Terror Organization (FETÖ) ringleader Fetullah Gülen as a “Turkish cleric.” On several social media platforms, Ahmad, who uses the Twitter handle “Mardini Dilbirin,” regularly defends Pastor Brunson, who is accused of espionage by Turkey. Ahmad, who had previously shared the photo of PKK ringleader Abdullah Öcalan, had levelled sharp false accusations against Turkey and the Turkish Armed Forces. A large number of photos showing Ahmad together with Brunson can be found across the former’s social media accounts, the most striking among them shows Ahmad baptizing new converts in the Aegean waters, with the attendance of the congregation of the Kurdish Christian Church, also known as the Church of Resurrection. Photos taken at the church where Ahmad serves as pastor show PKK and so-called Kurdistan imagery hanging on the walls.
Pastor Brunson’s ‘godson’ served as link to PKK: reports
PKK terrorists gather at Resurrection Church
Secret witness “Göktaşı” claimed that there is a link between the PKK and Brunson, adding that many Syrian migrants and Kurds visit the Resurrection Church, and that they are led by Syrian national known only as Mehmet and B.Y., who are members of the PKK cadre.
Göktaşı stated that various individuals, one called Emin and another dubbed Agit, disappeared suddenly after periods of regularly visiting the church. Göktaşı said that he believes that these individuals went to join the PKK’s cadre up in the mountains during their mysterious disappearances.
The lawyer for the American Christian pastor on trial for terrorism charges in Turkey said on Wednesday he planned to appeal to the constitutional court to seek Andrew Brunson's release after being rejected by a lower court last week.Brunson is at the centre of a row between Turkey and the United States, which has exacerbated a crisis in Turkey's lira and reverberated across global markets.The evangelical pastor, who has lived in Turkey for two decades, has been detained for 21 months on terrorism charges, which he denies. He is under house arrest."Once the upper court's rejection has been confirmed in writing we will apply to the constitutional court," lawyer Ismail Cem Halavurt said.Once domestic legal avenues are exhausted, if necessary the defence would then apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), he said."We are hopeful regarding the constitutional court, but if it is rejected there, we will go to the ECHR without hesitation," he added.The court in Turkey's Izmir province which last week rejected the appeal said evidence was still being collected and the pastor posed a flight risk.Brunson is accused of terrorism charges and aiding the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), which Ankara says was responsible for a coup attempt in July 2016 against President Tayyip Erdoğan.In an interview with Reuters on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would give Turkey no concessions in return for the release of Brunson. Ankara has not responded to Trump's comments.US sanctions hurt NATO alliance, says Turkish FMTurkish court rejects US pastor’s release appeal for third time
US pastor's lawyer plans appeal to Turkish constitutional court
Brunson’s church hosts secret meetings
The secret witness added that sometimes the church would host meetings that were not previously set, and that Brunson’s wife Norin and Kurdish leaders B.Y., Syrian Mehmet and Agit would participate. Göktaşı said that nobody from the church congregation was allowed to attend, and that sometimes the meetings would be held in Brunson’s home.
Göktaşı claimed that once Brunson was imprisoned, B.Y. took leadership of the church and organized activities in support of the PKK. The secret witness added that hundreds of Arabic Bibles and references were printed at a firm called M.Y. to teach Kurds and Christians in Syria Christianity.
G.D., who served as assistant pastor at Izmir’s St. Antoine Church between 2005 and 2011, said t-shirts emblazoned with the PKK’s so-called emblem arrived at the Resurrection Church during some church services, and terror sympathizers spoke in favor of the PKK.
U.S. President Donald Trump has been using the dispute with Turkey about a detained pastor to garner votes ahead of congressional elections in November.In an analysis piece the Financial Times said the move to press Turkey to release Andrew Brunson was done to appease evangelical Christian voters who are a large core of Trump’s support base.On the first day Trump threatened Turkey with sanctions for the treatment of Brunson, Vice President Mike Pence gave a prayer at the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom in which he said "to believers across America, I say a pray for pastor Brunson."Turkish court rejects US pastor’s release appeal for third timeWhile Evangelists in the United States consider Trump's efforts to release Brunson as support for religious freedom, the article argued Trump was trying to use this issue to secure success during the Nov. 7 midterm elections."The Brunson case is a rallying call for evangelicals within the Republican base because you have a Christian pastor being held in a Muslim-majority country," Amanda Sloat of Brookings Institution told the newspaper. "It seems like this is something that Pence has supported from the beginning."The article published Thursday discussed how many of Trump's political decisions have been widely supported by his evangelical base.US growing isolated in international system under TrumpGary Bauer, chief domestic policy adviser for former President Ronald Reagan, said the evangelical community welcomed the appointments of Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.In the past few months, Democratic voters have been showing up at the polls in large numbers to choose candidates for the midterms. To eliminate the possibility of Democrats taking control of Congress, Trump wants to bring out a larger number of evangelical voters by securing Brunson's release, the Financial Times said.Relations between Ankara and Washington have soured in recent weeks following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Turkish officials over the detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is under house arrest in Turkey on terrorism charges.Turkey will respond in kind to US sanctions: trade ministerPresident Donald Trump last week ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports.On Wednesday, in retaliation, Turkey increased tariffs on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.Trump tweets insolent threat to Turkey
Trump using Brunson to rally evangelical votes: report
FETÖ link
The indictment states that photographs of decryption efforts for terrorists of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) were shown to G.D., and it was found that Brunson was in close contact with FETÖ-linked M.S. and the terror group’s Aegean region administrator Bekir Baz’s assistant.
Brunson is charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and FETÖ, the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.
Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül for not releasing the pastor. The sanctions were followed by U.S President Donald Trump increasing tariffs on Turkish imports, which Turkey responded to by imposing customs duties on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.