Turkish Court Rejects American Pastor's Request to End House Arrest

A court in Turkey has rejected the request of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who sought to end his house arrest and travel ban, but the Supreme Court has not yet commented on this appeal. Brunson's lawyer stated on Wednesday, August 15, that the Supreme Court's review usually takes between three to seven days, but a decision regarding Brunson may come sooner. Ismail Cem Halavurt mentioned, 'The court's decision may be announced tomorrow or even tonight. Such appeals should be decided quickly as they relate to individual freedoms.' Brunson was arrested following the failed coup in 2016 on charges of 'espionage' and 'terrorism' linked to the Fethullah Gülen network, a Turkish cleric in exile in the U.S., and Kurdish militant groups. He has denied these charges. Washington considers Brunson's trial unfair and has sanctioned Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu for their roles in Brunson's detention. Additionally, the U.S. has recently doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Turkey. In response, Turkey has also doubled tariffs on certain American goods, including alcoholic beverages, cars, and cigarettes. The White House criticized Turkey's decision on Wednesday, stating that Ankara has taken a 'regrettable' step in the wrong direction. Sarah Sanders, White House spokesperson, said, 'The tariffs imposed by the United States on Turkey are for national security reasons. Their tariffs are retaliatory.' She noted that Brunson's release would not affect the imposed tariffs but could lead to a reduction in the severity of sanctions, referring to the sanctions on Turkish ministers. A White House official stated on August 14 that there has been 'no progress' in Brunson's situation. The official, who wished to remain anonymous, warned that if Turkey does not release the American pastor, it may face increased economic pressure.