Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu
Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu reacted to a U.S. move to impose sanctions on him and the country's justice minister in a Twitter post on Thursday.
"We have a property in America: FETÖ. We will not leave it there. We will get it," Soylu wrote on his official Twitter account.
Soylu's remarks came a day after White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said the U.S. would impose sanctions on Soylu, and Abdulhamit Gul, the justice minister, for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday that Turkey had no problems with religious minorities in the country, and that the threatening language of the United States would not benefit anyone."Turkey has no problems related to [religious] minorities. The threatening language of the U.S. evangelist, Zionist mentality is unacceptable," Erdoğan told journalists in parliament on Wednesday.He added: "We will continue on the path we believe in without the slightest concession to our freedom, sovereignty, or judicial independence."Turkey is not without alternatives: Presidential aideSpeaking to reporters in Ankara, Erdoğan said Turkey would not make compromises regarding the independence of the judiciary, and said the remarks of the "evangelist, zionist mentality" in the United States was unacceptable.On Tuesday, in a joint declaration, Turkey's minority community representatives -- including followers of the Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches -- said that people of different faiths live "freely"."We as religious representatives and foundation directors of societies of different religions and beliefs, who have been settled in this country for centuries, are free to follow our beliefs and practices,” the declaration read.He also said his foreign minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, would hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting in Singapore.Turkish business leader blasts threats by Trump, Pence
Erdoğan says US's threatening language will not benefit anyone
Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".
Justice Minister Gul said Wednesday he does not own any property or have money outside Turkey.
Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday strongly protested against U.S. Treasury Department's decision, calling on the U.S. administration to reverse its "wrong decision".
Turkey is not a country that can be easily dispensed with, said the Turkish presidential spokesman on Tuesday.“Everyone should know. It may be the [F-35 fighter jets] or other issues. Turkey is not without alternatives,” said Ibrahim Kalın, responding to U.S. threats to impose sanctions or halt weapons sales to Turkey.“The U.S. using threatening language, using an ongoing legal issue as an excuse is unacceptable,” Kalın told reporters at the presidential complex.“Everyone has to respect the ongoing legal procedure on the Pastor Brunson issue,” Kalın said.Turkish business leader blasts threats by Trump, PenceTurkish-U.S. relations soured after President Donald Trump threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey over American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who was arrested in December 2016 on terrorism-related charges.
His charges include spying for the PKK -- listed as a terrorist group by both the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated coup attempt in Turkey of July 2016.
The U.S. Congress has also tried to halt the sales of F-35 jets, citing the arrests of U.S. citizens in Turkey and Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.Pointing out that both sides signed contracts for the sale, Ankara has responded that even if the F-35 sale were cancelled, Turkey has other alternatives.Kalın also said that Turkey is not expecting the recent tensions to have a negative effect on the roadmap between the two countries for the northern Syrian city of Manbij, and that they have not.“The Manbij plan continues to be implemented as designed. It has a certain calendar and elements. These are being carried out step by step,” he added.“Our fight against against terror threats originating from Syria will continue with determination.”President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will announce his 100-day action plan on Aug. 3, Kalın announced.He added: “A strategic plan for the 2019-2023 period will be prepared by November.”
Turkey is not without alternatives: Presidential aide
Brunson has been charged 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.
Four Turkish political parties protested Thursday against U.S. sanctions on two ministers “in the strongest way”.“We say ‘no’ to the U.S. threats with common solidarity and determination of our nation,” said the Justice and Development (AK) Party, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Good (IYI) Party in a joint statement.It added that it was the right of the executive body, or presidency, to give the necessary response to the U.S. based on the principle of international reciprocity.Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the "U.S. attempt to impose sanctions on our two ministers will not go unanswered.”One of the ministers targeted for sanctions, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, said on his Twitter account that he does not own any property or have money outside Turkey.Previously, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said the U.S. would impose sanctions on Turkey’s ministers of justice and interior for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Sanders said the U.S. would block the properties, if any, of the two ministers.In a written statement published Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department said Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu "played leading roles in the organizations responsible for the arrest and detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson".According to U.S. law, those mentioned on the sanctions list will have any of their assets and properties under U.S. jurisdiction blocked and American businesses and individuals will be prohibited from engaging in financial transactions with them.- Brunson indictmentBrunson has been charged with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.The American pastor was arrested in October 2016. The Izmir 5th Penal Court of Peace on Dec. 9 of that year ordered Brunson's continued detention pending trial.On July 25, the 2nd High Criminal Court in Izmir decided to turn Brunson's detention into house arrest in light of his health problems.Izmir Public Prosecutor Berkant Karakaya's indictment stated that Brunson acted in accordance with terrorist groups' strategies under the pretext of being a man of religion. It added that Brunson knew the aims of such groups and yet still willingly cooperated with them.In the indictment, Brunson was mentioned as getting in touch with FETO's high-ranking members using their aliases. He was accused of determining his strategies by getting in touch with FETO fugitives Bekir Baz, his assistant Murat Safa and Amnesty International's Turkey branch head Taner Kilic, who is awaiting trial in prison for "being a member of an armed terrorist group".In the technical investigation, 293 close GSM signals were detected from Brunson with fugitive Bekir Baz.The indictment also mentions a message Brunson sent to a U.S. soldier expressing sadness over the July 2016 defeated coup.The text message said: “We were expecting an earthquake to shake the Turkish nation. The conditions returning to Jesus were met now. Many Turks relied on the military like in the past, but this time it was too late. Another blow after the coup attempt. I think the situation is going to get worse. We'll win at the end."
Four Turkish political parties protest US sanctions
Turkey strongly protests against a decision by the U.S. Treasury Department to impose sanctions on two ministers, the Foreign Ministry said in a written statement late Wednesday."An equivalent response to this aggressive attitude will be given without delay," it said.The ministry called on the U.S. administration to reverse its "wrong decision"."There is no doubt that the decision, which disrespectfully intervenes in our judicial system, stands in contrast to the essence of our relations and will seriously damage the constructive efforts made in order to resolve problems between the two countries," it said."U.S. attempt to impose sanctions on our two ministers will not go unanswered," Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoglu said on Twitter.He also said the two countries would not resolve issues unless the U.S. administration realizes that Turkey will not give in to unlawful U.S. demands with this method.Turkey is not without alternatives: Presidential aideOn his Twitter account, one of the ministers targeted for sanctions, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, said he does not own any property or have money outside Turkey.He added that his only dream was to live in Turkey until the end of his life.Previously, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said the U.S. would impose sanctions on Turkey’s ministers of justice and interior for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.Turkish business leader blasts threats by Trump, PenceSanders said the U.S. would block the properties, if any, of the two ministers.In a written statement published Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department said Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu "played leading roles in the organizations responsible for the arrest and detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson".According to U.S. law, those mentioned on the sanctions list will have any of their assets and properties under U.S. jurisdiction blocked and American businesses and individuals will be prohibited from engaging in financial transactions with them.Brunson indictmentBrunson has been 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.The American pastor was arrested in October 2016. The Izmir 5th Penal Court of Peace on Dec. 9 of that year ordered Brunson's continued detention pending trial.On July 25, the 2nd High Criminal Court in Izmir decided to turn Brunson's detention into house arrest in light of his health problems.Turkey expects 'mutual respect' in ties with USIzmir Public Prosecutor Berkant Karakaya's indictment stated that Brunson acted in accordance with terrorist groups' strategies under the pretext of being a man of religion. It added that Brunson knew the aims of such groups and yet still willingly cooperated with them.In the indictment, Brunson was mentioned as getting in touch with FETÖ's high-ranking members using their alias. He was accused of determining his strategies by getting in touch with FETÖ fugitives Bekir Baz, his assistant Murat Safa and Amnesty International's Turkey branch head Taner Kilic, who is awaiting trial in prison for "being a member of an armed terrorist group".In the technical investigation, 293 close GSM signals were detected from Brunson with fugitive Bekir Baz.The indictment also mentions a message sent to a U.S. soldier expressing sadness over the July 2016 defeated coup.The text message said: “We were expecting an earthquake to shake the Turkish nation. The conditions returning to Jesus were met now. Many Turks relied on the military like in the past, but this time it was too late. Another blow after the coup attempt. I think the situation is going to get worse. We'll win at the end."
Turkey strongly protests against US sanctions decision