American Pastor Denies Allegations of Collaborating with Failed Coup in Turkey

Andrew Brunson, an American pastor, denied on Monday, April 15, the allegations of collaborating with the designers of the failed military coup in Turkey in 2016. According to Reuters, Brunson, who has lived in Turkey for over two decades, is accused of working with coup plotters in Ankara. The charges against this American pastor could lead to a prison sentence of up to 35 years. In a court in Izmir, western Turkey, Brunson stated: 'I have never acted against Turkey. I love Turkey. I have been praying for Turkey for 25 years. I want the truth to be revealed.' Reuters reports that Brunson has been active in a church in Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city. He further stated in court: 'I reject the charges in the indictment. I have not participated in any illegal activities.' According to the report, Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina and Sam Brownback, the U.S. Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, were also present in court. Meanwhile, Brunson's lawyer mentioned that the court has extended his client's detention during the trial. Brunson's trial is one of several legal cases that have led to tensions in U.S.-Turkey relations in recent years. The U.S. has called for Brunson's release, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had previously requested a swap of Brunson for Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish cleric residing in Pennsylvania. Other contentious issues between Ankara and Washington include U.S. actions regarding developments in Syria, with Turkey criticizing U.S. support for Syrian Kurds.