File photo: Turkey's Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül
Turkey’s judicial system will have the ultimate say on a detained American pastor, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül said Thursday in reaction to threatened sanctions by U.S. President Donald Trump against Ankara.
Gül’s statement came shortly after Ankara responded to remarks by Trump in which he threatened the country with sanctions unless Ankara releases pastor Andrew Brunson, who is under house arrest in Turkey over terror charges.
“Turkey is a fully independent and sovereign country that determines its own destiny,” Gül said on Twitter.
“The Brunson case will proceed in its own way, as it should be in a fully independent and sovereign country, and supreme Turkish justice will have the ultimate say,” he added.
Turkish presidential spokesperson on Thursday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of imposing sanctions on the country unless Ankara releases a detained American pastor.In a statement, İbrahim Kalın said: “It is not possible to accept threatening language used towards our country, which is a NATO ally.”“The U.S. administration, which has never taken a step against FETÖ -- should know that it cannot get any result by threatening Turkey using a matter, which is being handled by the independent Turkish judiciary, as an excuse."Erdoğan warns South Africa against FETÖ threatKalın also called on the U.S. administration to "review its manners immediately" before relations between the two countries deteriorate any further.In an attempt to interfere with NATO-member Turkey's judiciary, Trump tweeted: "The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their longtime detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson."Turkish FM speaks with US counterpart over phoneBrunson was transferred to house arrest Wednesday after being detained in the Aegean province of Izmir in December 2016.He was charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group Turkey accuses of orchestrating the defeated July 2016 coup attempt.Earlier, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in a tweet threatened to impose "significant sanctions on Turkey until this innocent man of faith is free".
Turkey denounces Trump’s threats of sanctions
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavuşoglu on Thursday spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over the phone, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.The phone contact was made shortly after Turkey responded to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump after he threatened the country with sanctions unless Ankara releases a detained American pastor.No further details were released.In an attempt to interfere with NATO-member Turkey's judiciary, Trump tweeted: "The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their longtime detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson."Turkey places jailed US cleric under house arrest'US respects Turkish legal system in pastor case'“No one dictates Turkey. We will never tolerate threats from anybody. Rule of law is for everyone; no exception,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavuşoglu responded in a tweet.Brunson was transferred to house arrest Wednesday after being detained in the Aegean province of Izmir in December 2016.Erdoğan warns South Africa against FETÖ threatHe was charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group Turkey accuses of orchestrating the defeated July 2016 coup attempt.
Turkish FM speaks with US counterpart over phone
In an attempt to interfere with NATO member Turkey's judiciary, Trump tweeted: "The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their longtime detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson."
Brunson was transferred to house arrest Wednesday after being detained in Izmir province since December 2016.
He was charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group Turkey accuses of orchestrating the defeated July 2016 coup attempt.