Politics
16:38, 15-Aug-2018
Turkey court rejects new appeal to release detained US pastor
Updated
16:40, 18-Aug-2018
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A Turkish court on Wednesday rejected a new appeal to free US pastor Andrew Brunson, whose detention has led to a tense standoff between Turkey and the United States, local media reported.
The court rejected the appeal and ruled that Brunson will remain under house arrest, but an upper court is yet to rule on the appeal, Turkey's state broadcaster TRT reported.
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The case of the pastor is at the heart of a deepening diplomatic crisis between Turkey and the United States which has sent Turkish lira into free fall.
US pastor Andrew Craig Brunson is escorted by Turkish police officers to his house in Izmir, July 25, 2018. /VCG Photo
US pastor Andrew Craig Brunson is escorted by Turkish police officers to his house in Izmir, July 25, 2018. /VCG Photo
Brunson's jail term had been converted to house detention for health reasons.
His detention has soured relations with Washington, with US President Donald Trump doubling Turkey's aluminium and steel tariffs in punitive actions against Ankara's refusal to release Brunson.
"The president has a great deal of frustration (about) the pastor not being released," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Tuesday.
Protesters wave Turkish national flags and hold placards reading "US get out of Middle East" as they chant slogans against the US in front of the US embassy in Ankara, August 3, 2018 . /VCG Photo
Protesters wave Turkish national flags and hold placards reading "US get out of Middle East" as they chant slogans against the US in front of the US embassy in Ankara, August 3, 2018 . /VCG Photo
The statement came after US embassy charge d'affaires Jeffrey Hovenier visited Brunson in Izmir.
Brunson's lawyer Cem Halavurt told AFP that a higher court would also discuss his appeal for Brunson's release.
Turkey's ambassador to Washington Serdar Kilic on Monday held private talks with US National Security Advisor John Bolton in a meeting to discuss the pastor's status.
Meanwhile, Qatar's emir headed to Turkey on Wednesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Erdogan are expected to discuss "means of strengthening the existing strategic cooperation between the two countries in various fields," the Qatari state news agency QNA reported.
Turkey and Qatar have traditionally maintained good ties and Ankara stood by Doha after Saudi Arabia and other Arab states severed diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Qatar last year, accusing it of financing terrorism, a charge Doha denies.
Source(s): AFP
,Reuters