File Photo: Metin Feyzioglu
The Turkish Bar Association on Thursday criticized the U.S. move to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers for not releasing an American pastor, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.
Metin Feyzioglu, the association's head, said in a statement: "Threatening messages and sanctions issued against our country for the release of their citizen detained in Turkey by relevant authorities of the United States are unacceptable."
He asserted that such a move by the U.S. not only undermines international law but also is an attempt to interfere with the justice system of a sovereign state.
Parliament Speaker Binali Yıldırım has termed the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers as "unlawful and extremely arbitrary"."The sanctions decision taken by the U.S. Secretary of Treasury has targeted our Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül and our Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, which is unlawful and extremely arbitrary," Yıldırıım said in a statement on Thursday."I strongly condemn this decision that is an indicator of a disrespectful manner on judicially process in Turkey," he added.US is a threat to Turkey: İbrahim KaragülYıldırım called on the U.S. administration to reverse its decision.On Wednesday night, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. was imposing sanctions on Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".US sanctions move 'abdication of reason': Turkish MPBrunson has been charged in Turkey with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.Turkey will not hesitate to respond to US sanctions: Dep presidentInterior minister slams US sanctions moveFour Turkish political parties protest US sanctionsTurkey strongly protests against US sanctions decision
Parliament speaker calls US sanctions ‘unlawful and arbitrary’
Feyzioglu described the U.S. move as "contrary to rule of law", adding: "Some U.S. officials have rather taken a hammer in their hands and treat every problem they face in foreign policy as nails.
"Turkish judiciary will give a verdict in accordance with universal rules for fair trial. No one should doubt this."
Recalling that Turkey and the U.S. are allies, Feyzioglu stressed that such alliance is not just important for the two nations but also for the entire world.
"Basis of an alliance is having mutual respect for international law and the sovereign rights of states," he said.
The head of Turkish parliament's constitutional committee has described the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers as an "abdication of reason"."The U.S. administration's decision is far from good sense, an abdication of reason, a lack of foresight," Bekir Bozdağ said on his official Twitter account on Thursday."The U.S. cannot take what it wants from Turkey with a method that is against international law, unlawful and presuming," Bozdag, a lawmaker from Yozgat province, added.On Wednesday night, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. was imposing sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".The head of Turkish parliament's education, culture and sport committee also called on the U.S. to reverse its decision on the sanctions."We call on the U.S. administration to turn from this decision that has the characteristics of intervention into [Turkey's] justice system," Numan Kulturmus, a lawmaker from Istanbul province, said.Kurtulmus said Turkey would "promptly give response to that kind of aggressive manner".The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday also strongly protested against U.S. Treasury Department's decision, calling on the U.S. administration to reverse its "wrong decision".Brunson has been charged in Turkey with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.
US sanctions move 'abdication of reason': Turkish MP
On Wednesday night, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. was imposing sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson.
Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".
Brunson has been charged in Turkey with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.
Turkish prosecutors on Thursday issued arrest warrants for 27 soldiers suspected of being members to FETÖ, the terror group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.According to a statement of the Chief Public Prosecutor’s office in Ankara arrest warrants were issued for soldiers at the Turkish Naval Forces Command -- five of them serving -- over links to FETÖ’s so-called "imams".The soldiers -- including captains, lieutenants and sergeants -- are accused of communicating with FETÖ members with pre-paid phone cards and pay phones.Key FETÖ suspect visited Fetullah Gülen in USPolice operations were underway to nab suspects across eight provinces in Turkey, the statement added.FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.Fifty suspected FETÖ fugitives caught en route to RhodesTurkey warns Mongolia over manipulation by FETÖFETÖ presence in Europe after the July 15 coup attempt
Turkey issues arrest warrants for 27 FETÖ suspects
Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.