Andrew Brunson
American pastor Andrew Brunson is on a plane home to the United States after a Turkish court ruled he should be released, according to lawyer representing his family.
"The fact that he is now on a plane to the United States can only be viewed as a significant victory for Pastor Brunson and his family," said lawyer Jay Sekulow in a statement.
A Turkish court ruled on Friday to release U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson from house arrest, sentencing him to three years in jail but saying he will not spend any more time in custody because of time already served.The court's decision to lift judicial controls meant that evangelical pastor Brunson, at the heart of a diplomatic spat between the two countries, could leave Turkey and return to the United States.The court passed a 3 years and 1-1/2 month sentence on Brunson.Asked whether Brunson would go to the United States, his lawyer Ismail Cem Halavurt said: "He will probably leave."American pastor en route home to US: lawyerWitnesses said Brunson wept as the decision was announced. Before the judge's ruling, the pastor told the court: "I am an innocent man. I love Jesus, I love Turkey."The case against Brunson, an evangelical preacher from North Carolina who has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years and was arrested two years ago, had led to U.S. tariffs against Turkey and drawn condemnation from President Donald Trump.Video: Turkish court releases US pastor Andrew BrunsonBrunson was charged with links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), which Turkey says is responsible for the defeated July 15 coup attempt.Brunson appeared in the courtroom in the western coastal town of Aliaga wearing a black suit, white shirt and red tie. His wife Norine looked on from the visitors' seating area as he listened to testimony from defense and prosecution witnesses.Turkish court hears witnesses in US pastor's trial
Turkish court rules to release US pastor Brunson
A Turkish court ruled on Friday to release U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson from house arrest, sentencing him to three years in jail but saying he will not spend any more time in custody because of time already served.
The court's decision to lift judicial controls meant that evangelical pastor Brunson, at the heart of a diplomatic spat between the two countries, could leave Turkey and return to the United States.
The court passed a 3 years and 1-1/2 month sentence on Brunson.
A Turkish court on Friday sentenced U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson to three years and 1.5 months in prison.Izmir Heavy Penal Court No.2, in accordance with its ruling, ended his house arrest and travel ban.
Turkish court releases US pastor Andrew Brunson
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said his administration was "working very hard" in the case of Andrew Brunson, shortly after a Turkish court ruled to release the U.S. evangelical Christian pastor."Working very hard on Pastor Brunson!" Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. He provided no further detail.He also said that he hopes Pastor Brunson to be safely back home soon.Working very hard on Pastor Brunson!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 12 Ekim 2018 My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 12 Ekim 2018 Turkish court rules to release US pastor Brunson
Trump cites hard work in US pastor Brunson case