The American Center for Law & Justice, which has been representing Brunson, called the house arrest news a “major development.”
(Bridget Johnson – PJ Media) Citing the pastor’s health problems as the reason, a Turkish court today ordered that Andrew Brunson be moved from prison to house arrest.
Brunson still faces 35 years in prison after the regime of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan swept up the longtime Turkey resident, along with several other Americans, in his post-coup purges. …
Since July 15, 2016, the Turkish government has arrested 80,147 people on muddled charges of being tied to Fethullah Gülen, a Pennsylvania-based moderate political foe of Erdoğan. As the regime has raised the topic of seeking Gülen’s extradition with the U.S. government, it’s believed the Americans have been detained as potential swap leverage.
Brunson and his wife, Norine, raised their family in Turkey and ministered through the Protestant Izmir Resurrection Church in the Aegean coast city. In October 2016, after living in the country for 23 years, they found a note on their door telling them to report to the migration management office for what they thought would be a visit connected to their visa renewal. Instead, officials detained the couple. They did not shut down the church, which has continued operating under one of Brunson’s ministry partners, or arrest other members.