Pictured above: Andrew Brunson has now been unjustly imprisoned for almost a year.
It's been almost a year since Christian pastor Andrew Brunson was wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey. Authorities allege that Andrew is linked to the terrorist organization Fethullah Gülen, who is believed to have been behind the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016. Fethullah Gülen is a Turkish Muslim preacher living in exile in the US who the Turkish authorities want extradited.
Following the 2016 coup attempt, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency and since then Turkish authorities have imprisoned more than 50,000 people who are also suspected of having links to the Gülen movement, including teachers, lawyers and journalists. In addition, more than 100,000 civil servants have been suspended, resembling something akin to a political purge.
To date, both Andrew Brunson and his lawyer have been denied access to the case the authorities are building around him. Neither files, detailed indictments nor concrete evidence has seen the light of day, despite the fact that Andrew has been in prison for almost a year.
I started a church; I am a man of faith who did this with the knowledge of the state. I did not engage in espionage Andrew
Harsh and serious accusations hit Andrew
August 24, 2017 was a very challenging day for Andrew Brunson as his case took a drastic turn. Andrew was connected via a video call from the top-security prison in Izmir, where he was transferred to in late July, to a judge at the Second Criminal Court in Izmir. The judge presented the chief prosecutor's new allegations against Andrew. The allegations were that Andrew gained access to state secrets, including political and military information, for espionage purposes and that the information was used to 'overthrow' the Turkish parliament and government and undermine the constitutional order of the state.
Andrew pleads not guilty
Andrew Brunson reacted promptly to the allegations read out to him in court: "
“I have never ever met with a member of GüThe Len movement. I have never participated in any of their meetings. I have not any connection to FETO (Fetullah Gulen Terrorist Organization). I would never support a Muslim movement. I support Turkey's enhed. I started a church; I am a beliefs man who did this with the state's knowledge. My goal is to tell people about Jesus Christ. I am exercised not espionage. I demand an explanation on, When, where and how I carried out espionage ", says Andrew according to World Watch Monitor.
Ihsan Ozbek, a Turkish pastor and leader of the country's Association of Protestant Churches who has known Andrew for many years, also protests the new accusations against Andrew. Ozbek calls them 'absurd' and emphasizes that Andrew not is a spy, but rather that it is a 'political issue'.
Donald Trump spoke out for persecuted Christians before the US presidential election and his attempt to get Andrew Brunson released is an example of him putting action behind his words (Photo: Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0)
Donald Trump has tried to help Brunson
Danish Mission to Europe's partner Middle East Concern reports that when Turkish President Erdogan visited the US in May 2017, US President Donald Trump asked Turkey to send Brunson back to the US. Likewise, US Secretary of State Rex Tillarson took the time to meet with Andrew's wife Norine during his visit to Turkey that same month, sending a strong signal to his Turkish hosts that Brunson's case is a top priority in US foreign policy. Unfortunately, these efforts have yet to yield any results, which may be interpreted as one of many indications that NATO member Turkey is increasingly turning its back on the US and the West.
Some speculate that Turkey wants Andrew Brunson to be part of a prisoner swap with the US in which the US hands over Fethullah Gülen for prosecution in Turkey. The new charges against Andrew have taken a toll on him and he is in dire need of prayer.
You can help Andrew and his family by
- Pray for Andrew and his family
- Write to Norine on Facebook and tell them you are praying for them. Click here.
- Write to the Turkish authorities and ask them to release Andrew.
Click here to download the appeal letter.
Sign and date the appeal letter and send it scanned to Danish European Mission at: info@forfulgtekristne.dk or by post to Danish European Mission, Drejervej 15, 2400 Copenhagen NV. Danish European Mission will then forward the appeal to the Turkish Ministry of Interior.
Click here to see the appeal letter in Danish.
