US pastor Andrew Brunson
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.
Ismail Cem Halavurt, lawyer of US pastor Andrew Brunson
"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.
In an opinion piece to USA Today, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday the U.S. attempts to undermine Turkish economy hurt the NATO alliance.The article outlined the Turkish commitment to the alliance, both in policy and military support, and stressed that the way to solve the tensions between Ankara and Washington is through diplomacy, not tariffs."President [Donald] Trump was right when he called on members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to step up their defense spending. But new American sanctions targeting Turkey — and the threat of more to come — alienate one of the few NATO allies that has been ahead of the curve," Cavusoglu wrote.The foreign minister highlighted the country's commitment to NATO's defense spending, both committing to their guideline to spend 2 percent of the country's global domestic product (GDP) on defense, and already surpassing the NATO guideline of spending 20 percent on military equipment. Turkey also hosts the alliance's second largest military force."The economic sanctions Mr. Trump’s administration is imposing on Turkey, however, are poised to disrupt any atmosphere of cooperation — all while global threats demand that we strengthen, not weaken, the ties that bind us together," he said.On Syria, Cavusoglu cited a statement by a U.S. official saying that Turkey "suffered more casualties from terrorism in the past several years than any other Ally," and highlighted the strategic importance of its Incirlik air base which is being used by the U.S.-led coalition forces to fight Daesh terrorists in Syria."Over the past two years, we have arrested hundreds of suspected ISIS [Daesh] members, helping to prevent the group’s spread to Western capitals. In the face of this threat, Turkey has been the tip of the spear," Cavusoglu added.He also recalled that Turkey welcomed millions of Syrian refugees, being one of the few countries to do so.The tariffs sanctioned by the U.S. on Turkey will not just harm Turkey, but also harm the U.S. and Europe, according to Cavusoglu.He used the warning by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which told President Donald Trump that his actions "harm the U.S. economy and undermine American global leadership"."This reckless escalation needs to stop," said Cavusoglu, adding that both countries agree on a wide range of issues although they may have different views on significant ones."For everyone’s sake, we should address our disagreements with diplomacy, rather than threats and provocation, and with a commitment to facts and perspective," Cavusoglu added.Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on two government ministers for not releasing American pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey.On Aug. 10, President Donald Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports. Last Wednesday, in retaliation, Turkey increased tariffs on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.
US sanctions hurt NATO alliance, says Turkish FM
The Third İzmir High Criminal Court rejected U.S. Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson’s appeal for release on Friday.This is the third time his appeal for release has been rejected by Turkey.Ismail Cem Halavurt, Brunson’s lawyer, applied to the higher court after the appeal was also rejected by Izmir's Second High Criminal Court on Wednesday.Recently, the court had allowed Brunson to be moved from jail and placed him under house arrest in view of his "health problems".US growing isolated in international system under TrumpBrunson is charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (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 after Washington imposed sanctions on two Turkish ministers for not releasing the pastor.President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States "will pay nothing" to Turkey for the release of Brunson, who he called "a great patriot hostage."Turkey will respond in kind to US sanctions: trade minister“Turkey has taken advantage of the United States for many years. They are now holding our wonderful Christian Pastor, who I must now ask to represent our Country as a great patriot hostage. We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man, but we are cutting back on Turkey!” Trump tweeted.Threats from top U.S. officials targeting Turkey continued with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who said at a cabinet meeting that sanctions were ready to be put in place if Brunson was not freed."We have more that we are planning to do if they don't release him quickly," Mnuchin said during the meeting.Trump tweets insolent threat to TurkeyPresident Donald Trump on Friday ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports to 20 percent and 50 percent, respectively.On Wednesday, Turkey increased tariffs on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars in retaliation.
Turkish court rejects US pastor’s release appeal for third time