A local U.S. consulate employee was sentenced to nearly nine years in prison in Turkey on Thursday for "aiding an armed terror group" that Ankara blames for a failed 2016 coup, in a decision denounced by Washington.
The United States has seen "no credible evidence" to support the decision of the court, which convicted Metin Topuz for aiding a terrorist organization and sentenced him to eight years and nine months in prison, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Thursday.
Pompeo said his country was "deeply troubled" by the decision, voicing hope it would "swiftly be overturned," Pompeo said. "This conviction undermines confidence in Turkey's institutions and the critical trust at the foundation of Turkish-American relations."
Topuz, who worked as a liaison officer for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Istanbul, was arrested in 2017 and was jailed Thursday, the official Anadolu news agency reported.
He was accused of making contact with police and a prosecutor suspected of ties to U.S.-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says masterminded the attempted coup in 2016. Gulen rejects the accusations.
Topuz, a Turkish citizen, denied the allegations in court, the private DHA news agency reported. A lawyer for Topuz, contacted by AFP, confirmed the sentence and said a court of appeals is due to decide whether to uphold it.
In previous hearings, Topuz told the judge that his contacts with senior police officials or prosecutors of the time were entirely "part of my work as a translator and assistant liaison officer at the DEA." The Istanbul court acquitted Topuz on political and military espionage charges.
The U.S. embassy, whose staff regularly attended the hearings in support of Topuz and his family, has often said there is no credible evidence against him.
U.S. consul general Daria Darnel and acting public affairs officer Stephanie Kuck were present at Thursday's session.
People walk to the main Justice Palace in Istanbul, on May 15, 2019, as the trial begins against Metin Topuz. /AP
'New era'
In an interview with state broadcaster TRT this week, Erdogan praised cooperation with the U.S. in Libya, saying Ankara and Washington were edging closer to a "new era" in ties.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Turkish military planes were been carrying medical supplies to Washington to help fight the virus.
However, this latest Topuz verdict is likely to trigger new strains in bilateral ties between Ankara and Washington.
His initial arrest in 2017 triggered a diplomatic crisis with both Turkey and the U.S. suspending visa services for some time.
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Since the attempted overthrow of Erdogan, tens of thousands of people have been charged with suspected ties to Gulen and more than 100,000 people have been sacked or suspended from public sector jobs.
Ankara has been criticized by its Western allies and human rights activists over the crackdown they say has undermined democracy. Turkish officials say the raids are needed to clear Gulen's influence from state institutions.
(With input from agencies)