Posted on 03/17/2018 10:41:33 AM PDT by Texas Fossil
American pastor Andrew Brunson, behind bars in Turkey on terrorism-related charges, risks up to 35 years in jail in a politically loaded case that critics describe as “an eclipse of reason.” (held in Turkey since October 2016 on terror-related charges, he is seen in an undated picture.)
A Turkish prosecutor is seeking up to 35 years in jail for Andrew Brunson, the American pastor at the heart of a bitter diplomatic spat between Ankara and Washington. Held on terror-related charges since October 2016, Brunson has seemingly become a bargaining chip, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggesting last year that the pastor could go home if Washington extradited Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based preacher accused of masterminding the July 15, 2016, coup attempt.
According to media reports, a prosecutor in the western city of Izmir where Brunson is held has finally drawn up an indictment against the 50-year-old, who has been based in Turkey for more than two decades. Brunson pastored the Resurrection Church in Izmir, where he lived with his family as part of a tiny Protestant community. Neither Brunson nor his lawyer has seen the indictment yet, though it was leaked to the media this week.
Speaking to Al-Monitor, Brunson's lawyer Ismail Cem Halavurt deplored that “the leaking of the indictment before the parties have seen it amounts to a violation of confidentiality.”
Soner Tufan, the spokesman of the Association of Protestant Churches in Turkey, said, “We have failed to obtain the indictment thus far. We don’t know what exactly the charges are.”
(Excerpt) Read more at al-monitor.com ...
Al Monitor has an excellent reputation and this author is very accurate about the reality of his charges.
There is no Adalet (Justice) in Turkey. It is an Islamist Dictatorship with total power given to Erdogan.
The courts will only do what he asks. If the judge refuses? He is quickly removed from office.
If you’re going to play stickball in Canarsie you better learn Brooklyn rules.
In Turkey, under Erdogan the Islamist, there are NO RULES except for his order/decree.
NONE.
There was a march from Ankara to Istanbul, that took a couple of weeks. It was headed by a Kemalist, but not under their banner. The banner said “Adalet” (”Justice” in Turkish). No one was jailed by Erdogan, he is clearly still afraid of the Kemalists.
Ultimately, this will not end well for Erdogan or Turkey.
Turkey needs to be kicked out of NATO. But much of NATO has become Islamic colonies.
Yes, they threaten even large countries in Europe.
“In Turkey, under Erdogan the Islamist, there are NO RULES except for his order/decree.”
That’s my point.
Well, then we do agree.
Whatya expect it’s a NATO Ally?
Some ally.
If Erdogan keeps doing what he’s doing Turkey will look like Libya , Syria and Iraq , a bomb crater
Efrin is the most fertile agricultural area in Syria. Turkey want that. So they take that. The Kurds are fertilizing the soil with Turk and Jihadi blood in the process.
But loosing many fighters too.
If Turks did not have air control, they would go nowhere.
I keep hoping some stingers will suddenly appear. Would dampen Turkey’s zeal.
My father told me to "choose your friends wisely because the world judges you by them".
Fortunately I heeded his advice.
Fathers should all give good advice.
If you live in Turkey? The best advice is “leave”.
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