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North Carolina pastor detained in Turkey for two years on terrorism and espionage charges has been released by a Turkish court
A Turkish court convicted, but ordered the release, of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who was detained for 2 years on charges of espionage and terrorism related to Turkey's failed 2016 military coup.
A Turkish court on Friday convicted North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson of aiding terrorism in connection with an attempted 2016 coup, but sentenced him to time served and ordered his release from house arrest after months of pressure and sanctions from the United States over his detention.
Turkish authorities charged Brunson, 50, on offenses related to terrorism and espionage, accusing him of working with pro-Kurdish separatists and others to plot Turkey's failed 2016 military coup. At the time of his arrest, he was leading a small Evangelical congregation in Ankara.
While Brunson was released from jail and put on house arrest in July, his case continued to be a significant source of tension between the US and Turkey.
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The Trump administration sanctioned two senior Turkish officials
Turkish President Reçep Tayyip Erdogan initially declined to interfere in what he said was an independent legal matter, but diplomatic representatives from the US and Turkey reportedly struck a behind-the-scenes deal at last month's United Nations General Assembly meeting for Turkey to release Brunson in exchange for the US ending the sanctions.
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