It’s being reported this morning that Turkey is moving the Christian Pastor Andrew Brunson from prison to his home where he will be under “house arrest”:
CBS NEWS – An American pastor who has been in custody for nearly two years on terror and espionage charges will be put under house arrest as his trial continues, Turkey’s official news agency said Wednesday. Anadolu news agency said that Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, a 50-year-old evangelical pastor from Black Mountain, North Carolina would be released from a jail in western Turkey and be remanded at his house.
It was not clear when he would be transferred, but his lawyer Ismail Cem Halavurt confirmed to CBS News that the decision was made to move Brunson to house arrest. Brunson’s family was “elated” by the news and they were at the prison waiting for his release, according to Halavurt.
Brunson has been in custody since he was arrested in December 2016.
Exactly one week ago Trump called out Erdogan for holding Brunson hostage:
A total disgrace that Turkey will not release a respected U.S. Pastor, Andrew Brunson, from prison. He has been held hostage far too long. @RT_Erdogan should do something to free this wonderful Christian husband & father. He has done nothing wrong, and his family needs him!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2018
While Brunson certainly isn’t being released, this is a move in the right direction. And I wonder if this move has anything at all due to with pressure from Trump or his state department. Maybe this tweet had an impact? I’d like to think so, but in the end Brunson needs to be released. Trump was exactly right to say he’s being held hostage because what Erdogan really wants is Gulen and this is his way of trying to manipulate the US into turning him over.
UPDATE:
Sekulow says Brunson’s release to home has been confirmed:
We can confirm #PastorAndrew Brunson has been released from prison. https://t.co/Yuw9siJbqZ
— Jay Sekulow (@JaySekulow) July 25, 2018
We have confirmed that the Turkish government has issued an order releasing Pastor Andrew from prison and allowing him to be returned to his home in Turkey. This is a critical first step that we believe will result in the freedom of Pastor Andrew so he can return to the United States and be reunited with his family.
The President has played a critical role in securing the freedom of Pastor Andrew. We have worked closely with the President on this matter and are grateful for his efforts. We look forward to the ultimate release of Pastor Andrew.