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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.
Turkey's presidential spokesman has blasted Washington for disregarding the legal process in the case of an American pastor facing terrorism-related charges. In a written statement to Reuters late Wednesday, Ibrahim Kalın said: “There is the rule of law in Turkey, and the Andrew Brunson case is a legal issue. There is an ongoing legal process related to this individual. “It goes without saying that we find unacceptable the disregard of the legal process by the United States, which has been making certain demands.”Someone being a priest or a clergyman is not enough to make a person innocent, Kalın said."The judiciary is the decision-maker, and everybody, including the U.S., has to respect the decision of the Turkish judiciary. Just as it has so far, this rule will continue to hold."His remarks came after U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton earlier told Reuters that Turkey made a “big mistake” in not releasing Brunson. Turkey and the U.S. are facing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on two Cabinet ministers for not releasing pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism-related charges in Turkey. On Aug. 10, U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish aluminum and steel imports. In retaliation, Turkey raised tariffs on several U.S.-origin products, including alcohol and tobacco products and cars.Former German minister slams Trump’s Turkey policyHalkbank case result of 'FETÖ plot'Moving to another thorn in Turkish-U.S. ties, Kalın said that everybody knows that Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a former executive at Turkish state-owned lender Halkbank, was unjustly imprisoned by the U.S. as the result of a “plot” by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Turkey.Atilla was sentenced this May to 32 months in prison for violating the sanctions on Iran.“It is unacceptable that certain baseless and false allegations are made against Halkbank to weaken this public bank,” Kalın said.“It seems that the purpose of those steps is to discredit respectable institutions and persons and to punish them unjustly rather than discover the truth," he said, adding that Turkey is "extremely disturbed by this process.”US pastor's lawyer plans appeal to Turkish constitutional courtUS sanctions hurt NATO alliance, says Turkish FMBolton’s ‘desperate’ remarks Bolton had said that he was skeptical of Qatar’s pledge last week of $15 billion in investment support for Turkey, claiming this is “utterly insufficient to have an impact on Turkey’s economy.”His remarks on Turkey’s economic condition and Qatar’s investment plans point to a “more desperate situation,” Kalın said. “His statement is proof that the Trump administration is targeting a NATO ally as part of an economic war.”Kalın also mentioned that the current U.S. administration has similar disputes with Mexico, Canada, Cuba, China, Russia, Iran, the EU, and Germany. “The Trump administration has ... established that it intends to use trade, tariffs, and sanctions to start a global trade war,” he said. “So, there is a global problem. The problem between Turkey and the U.S. have appeared as part of the problems that the Trump administration has with the world,” Kalın added.“Such political, judicial and economic attitudes are at odds with the soul of the alliance. These are also against NATO’s fundamental rules.”After Trump attack on Russia ties, Merkel eyes Azeri gas'Turkey will not be silent'“Turkey has no intention of starting an economic war with any party. It cannot, however, be expected to keep silent in the face of attacks on its economy and judiciary,” he said.Ankara will work with the rest of the world against “restrictive and punitive” approaches and protect the nation's interests in all areas, he added.Kalın welcomed recent statements supporting Turkey, saying that they show Turkey is on the right path.“Qatar’s pledge of $15 billions in investment in Turkey relieved the markets. We appreciate Qatar’s attitude. From now on Turkish-Qatari relations will continue to strengthen at all levels,” he said.Stressing the importance of statements by Germany, France, Italy, Russia, China, and Iran in support of Turkey, Kalın praised the steps fighting back the attacks on the Turkish currency as effective.The Treasury and Finance Ministry and related institutions will continue to take measures to help the economy, he added.US, China to resume trade talks in Washington amid low expectations
US disregard of legal process unacceptable: presidential aide
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
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.