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Turkish court keeps US pastor behind bars

Turkey’s decision to postpone US pastor Andrew Brunson’s hearing until July may be driven by electoral calculations and attempts at so-called hostage diplomacy.
Norine Brunson, the wife fo jailed American pastor Andrew Brunson, who is held on charges of aiding terror groups, leaves the courthouse after Brunson's trial in Aliaga, north of Izmir, on May 7, 2018. - Brunson, who ran a church in the western city of Izmir, was detained by Turkish authorities in October 2016. If convicted, he risks up to 35 years in jail. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP)        (Photo credit should read BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)

Ignoring pleas from President Donald Trump and other top US officials, a Turkish court Monday declined to free Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who was detained in October 2016 on espionage and terror charges. This occurred during a hearing in which a secret witness claimed the pastor was trying to set up a “Christian Kurdish state” carved out of Turkey. It also was claimed that coordinates for weapons dropped by American forces to Kurdish militants in Syria were “provided by Christian missionaries.” Prosecutors refused to allow witnesses for the defense to testify and the trial was adjourned until July 18.

The decision drew a flurry of rebukes from US senators and members of Brunson’s church who had hoped the North Carolina evangelist would be placed under house arrest, if not released entirely and allowed to return home. Republican Sen. James Lankford, who has been spearheading legislation to punish Turkey over its increasingly roguish behavior, called Brunson’s trial a "sham" that was "filled with secret witnesses and conspiracy theories.” The Oklahoma senator added in a Monday tweet, “Congress stands ready to take action, including sanctions, if Brunson is not released.”

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