US pastor Andrew Brunson who was in detention in Turkey said he was returning home to the United States.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-court-sentences-us-pastor-for-3-years-lifts-house-arrest-travel-ban-171161">Also Read: Turkey court sentences US pastor to over 3 years in jail but allows him to go free</a>

"This is the day our family has been praying for - I am delighted to be on my way home to the United States," Brunson said in a statement.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
PASTOR BRUNSON JUST RELEASED. WILL BE HOME SOON!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1050754462405537798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

President Trump hailed the move announcing on Twitter that he will be home soon.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon!", the US president declared.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1050747691062493185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Brunson on his part thanked President Trump saying: "My entire family thanks the president, the administration, and Congress for their unwavering support."

Before the judge's ruling, the pastor told the court: "I am an innocent man. I love Jesus, I love Turkey."

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the US military has a plan to fly Brunson back to America on a military aircraft today. A Pentagon spokeswoman told Reuters that the expected plan involved flying Brunson through Germany on the way back to America but did not specify timing.

Turkey had imprisoned Brunson to three years and a half years in prison over terrorism charges two years ago. He was placed under house arrest in July as President Trump imposed sanctions on Turkey over the issue. The pastor lived in Turkey for over 20 years.

The United States had announced the imposition of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium and sanctions on two Turkish ministers in the wake of the disputes over Brunson.

Turkey and US relations deteriorated as the Erdogan government decided to keep the US pastor&nbsp;in the country as President Trump imposed stringent sanctions leading the Lira to crash dramatically. The Turkish economy collapsed as a result even as President Erodgan went on the defensive.

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo waded into the controversy asserting that it would be a "humanitarian thing" for Turkey to free Brunson.

Brunson was charged with links to Kurdish militants and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the cleric blamed by Turkey for a failed coup attempt two years ago.&nbsp;Brunson emphatically denied the charge. He faced maximum 35 years in prison if found guilty.

US pastor Andrew Brunson who was in detention in Turkey said he was returning home to the United States. Also Read: Turkey court sentences US pastor to over 3 years in jail but allows him to go free "This is the day our family has been praying for - I am delighted to be on my way home to the United States," Brunson said in a statement.

US pastor Andrew Brunson who was in detention in Turkey said he was returning home to the United States. Also Read: Turkey court sentences US pastor to over 3 years in jail but allows him to go free "This is the day our family has been praying for - I am delighted to be on my way home to the United States," Brunson said in a statement. PASTOR BRUNSON JUST RELEASED. WILL BE HOME SOON! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2018 × President Trump hailed the move announcing on Twitter that he will be home soon. "My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon!", the US president declared. My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2018 × Brunson on his part thanked President Trump saying: "My entire family thanks the president, the administration, and Congress for their unwavering support." Before the judge's ruling, the pastor told the court: "I am an innocent man. I love Jesus, I love Turkey." Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the US military has a plan to fly Brunson back to America on a military aircraft today. A Pentagon spokeswoman told Reuters that the expected plan involved flying Brunson through Germany on the way back to America but did not specify timing. Turkey had imprisoned Brunson to three years and a half years in prison over terrorism charges two years ago. He was placed under house arrest in July as President Trump imposed sanctions on Turkey over the issue. The pastor lived in Turkey for over 20 years. The United States had announced the imposition of tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium and sanctions on two Turkish ministers in the wake of the disputes over Brunson. Turkey and US relations deteriorated as the Erdogan government decided to keep the US pastor in the country as President Trump imposed stringent sanctions leading the Lira to crash dramatically. The Turkish economy collapsed as a result even as President Erodgan went on the defensive. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo waded into the controversy asserting that it would be a "humanitarian thing" for Turkey to free Brunson. Brunson was charged with links to Kurdish militants and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the cleric blamed by Turkey for a failed coup attempt two years ago. Brunson emphatically denied the charge. He faced maximum 35 years in prison if found guilty.

Freed US pastor Andrew Brunson to return home from Turkey in military plane; Trump hails move

US President Donald Trump hailed the decision of the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-court-sentences-us-pastor-for-3-years-lifts-house-arrest-travel-ban-171161">Turkey court to&nbsp;release the American pastor Andrew Brunson</a> who was detained for the last two years in Turkey.

Trump tweeted, " My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon!

A Turkish court on Friday ordered the release of a pastor in a case that sparked a crisis in ties with the United States.

The court in the western town of Aliaga convicted Andrew Brunson on terror-related charges and sentenced him to three years, one month and 15 days in jail, an AFP correspondent said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1050747691062493185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

However, he was freed taking into account time served and his good conduct in the trial, with the court lifting his house arrest and overseas travel ban, the correspondent added.

Brunson's detention since 2016 caused a rift between&nbsp;NATO allies Turkey and the US.

The US also slapped sanctions on Turkey which resulted&nbsp;in a crash in the Turkish lira.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump hailed the decision of the Turkey court to release the American pastor Andrew Brunson who was detained for the last two years in Turkey.

US President Donald Trump hailed the decision of the Turkey court to release the American pastor Andrew Brunson who was detained for the last two years in Turkey. Trump tweeted, " My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon! A Turkish court on Friday ordered the release of a pastor in a case that sparked a crisis in ties with the United States. The court in the western town of Aliaga convicted Andrew Brunson on terror-related charges and sentenced him to three years, one month and 15 days in jail, an AFP correspondent said. My thoughts and prayers are with Pastor Brunson, and we hope to have him safely back home soon! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2018 × However, he was freed taking into account time served and his good conduct in the trial, with the court lifting his house arrest and overseas travel ban, the correspondent added. Brunson's detention since 2016 caused a rift between NATO allies Turkey and the US. The US also slapped sanctions on Turkey which resulted in a crash in the Turkish lira. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump says hopes to have freed US pastor 'back home soon'

A Turkish court on Friday ordered the release of an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-hopeful-on-pastors-release-unaware-of-any-deal-with-turkey-170961">American pastor held for the last two years in Turkey</a>.

The court in the western town of Aliaga convicted Andrew Brunson on terror-related charges and sentenced him to three years, one month and 15 days in jail.

However, he was freed taking into account time served and his good conduct in the trial, with the court lifting his house arrest and overseas travel ban.

"I am an innocent man. I love Jesus. I love Turkey," Brunson said in his final defence.

When the verdict was read out, he wept and hugged his wife Norine.

It was not immediately clear where Brunson would go next, although some reports suggested he could fly to the United States imminently.

Brunson was arrested in 2016 on the charges of having&nbsp;links with Kurdish militants and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the cleric who is&nbsp;blamed by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-will-resist-us-sanctions-over-pastor-erdogan-168833">Turkey</a> for a failed coup attempt.

He has been under arrest in Turkey&nbsp;for the past two years.

Brunson had earlier denied the accusations and Washington had demanded his immediate release.

A Turkish prosecutor on Friday asked a court to end the house arrest and foreign travel ban of Brunson.

The prosecutor requested that Brunson be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail on charges of membership of a terror group, state-run TRT Haber TV said.&nbsp;

But crucially, the prosecutor had also requested that the court lifts the house arrest and travel ban of Brunson.

Meanwhile, the witnesses that were presented in the court claimed that the previous testimonies attributed to them against an American pastor were inaccurate.

In the wake of the detention of the US pastor, the US had imposed tariffs against Turkey.&nbsp;

With Washington slapping sanctions on Ankara, the crisis also sparked a crash in the Turkish lira in August that exposed Turkey's economic fragility.

Brunson appeared in the courtroom in the western coastal town of Aliaga wearing a black suit, white shirt and red tie. His wife Norine looked on from the visitors' seating area as he listened to testimony from defence and prosecution witnesses.

Brunson's detention deepened a rift between NATO allies Washington and Ankara, who are also at odds over the Syrian war and Turkey's plan to buy missile defences from Russia. The row has also exacerbated a slide in the lira's value which has lost 40 per cent against the dollar this year.

(With inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

A Turkish court on Friday ordered the release of an American pastor held for the last two years in Turkey. The court in the western town of Aliaga convicted Andrew Brunson on terror-related charges and sentenced him to three years, one month and 15 days in jail.

A Turkish court on Friday ordered the release of an American pastor held for the last two years in Turkey. The court in the western town of Aliaga convicted Andrew Brunson on terror-related charges and sentenced him to three years, one month and 15 days in jail. However, he was freed taking into account time served and his good conduct in the trial, with the court lifting his house arrest and overseas travel ban. "I am an innocent man. I love Jesus. I love Turkey," Brunson said in his final defence. When the verdict was read out, he wept and hugged his wife Norine. It was not immediately clear where Brunson would go next, although some reports suggested he could fly to the United States imminently. Brunson was arrested in 2016 on the charges of having links with Kurdish militants and supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the cleric who is blamed by Turkey for a failed coup attempt. He has been under arrest in Turkey for the past two years. Brunson had earlier denied the accusations and Washington had demanded his immediate release. A Turkish prosecutor on Friday asked a court to end the house arrest and foreign travel ban of Brunson. The prosecutor requested that Brunson be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail on charges of membership of a terror group, state-run TRT Haber TV said. But crucially, the prosecutor had also requested that the court lifts the house arrest and travel ban of Brunson. Meanwhile, the witnesses that were presented in the court claimed that the previous testimonies attributed to them against an American pastor were inaccurate. In the wake of the detention of the US pastor, the US had imposed tariffs against Turkey. With Washington slapping sanctions on Ankara, the crisis also sparked a crash in the Turkish lira in August that exposed Turkey's economic fragility. Brunson appeared in the courtroom in the western coastal town of Aliaga wearing a black suit, white shirt and red tie. His wife Norine looked on from the visitors' seating area as he listened to testimony from defence and prosecution witnesses. Brunson's detention deepened a rift between NATO allies Washington and Ankara, who are also at odds over the Syrian war and Turkey's plan to buy missile defences from Russia. The row has also exacerbated a slide in the lira's value which has lost 40 per cent against the dollar this year. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey court sentences US pastor to over 3 years in jail but allows him to go free

A lawyer for the US pastor whose two-year detention in Turkey led to a bitter row with Washington said on Wednesday he had appealed to the constitutional court for the American's release.

Pastor Andrew Brunson has been under house arrest at his home in the western city of Izmir since July and was previously held in jail after being detained in October 2016 on terror-related charges.

His lawyer, Cem Halavurt, told AFP that he had applied to the court on Tuesday afternoon, although he previously said he would apply on Wednesday morning.

The next hearing in Brunson's case is on October 12 and there are growing expectations that he will be permitted to return to the United States.

Halavurt said the constitutional court "procedure can take a few months" after making the application via a court in Istanbul.

Brunson, who ran a small evangelical Protestant church in Izmir and lived in Turkey for since 1993, is at the centre of tensions between Ankara and Washington.

He faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted on charges of carrying out activities on behalf of two groups deemed by Turkey to be terror organisations -- one led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen who Ankara says was behind the failed 2016 coup and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Brunson and US officials insist he is innocent of all charges.

Relations were further strained after he was put under house arrest and Washington's decision to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers, and double steel and aluminium tariffs in August, sparking a dramatic fall in the value of the Turkish lira.

But there have been signs that tensions could ease after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was hopeful Turkey would release the pastor while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said he hoped Ankara could rebuild relations with its NATO ally.

A lawyer for the US pastor whose two-year detention in Turkey led to a bitter row with Washington said on Wednesday he had appealed to the constitutional court for the American's release.

A lawyer for the US pastor whose two-year detention in Turkey led to a bitter row with Washington said on Wednesday he had appealed to the constitutional court for the American's release. Pastor Andrew Brunson has been under house arrest at his home in the western city of Izmir since July and was previously held in jail after being detained in October 2016 on terror-related charges. His lawyer, Cem Halavurt, told AFP that he had applied to the court on Tuesday afternoon, although he previously said he would apply on Wednesday morning. The next hearing in Brunson's case is on October 12 and there are growing expectations that he will be permitted to return to the United States. Halavurt said the constitutional court "procedure can take a few months" after making the application via a court in Istanbul. Brunson, who ran a small evangelical Protestant church in Izmir and lived in Turkey for since 1993, is at the centre of tensions between Ankara and Washington. He faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted on charges of carrying out activities on behalf of two groups deemed by Turkey to be terror organisations -- one led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen who Ankara says was behind the failed 2016 coup and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Brunson and US officials insist he is innocent of all charges. Relations were further strained after he was put under house arrest and Washington's decision to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers, and double steel and aluminium tariffs in August, sparking a dramatic fall in the value of the Turkish lira. But there have been signs that tensions could ease after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was hopeful Turkey would release the pastor while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said he hoped Ankara could rebuild relations with its NATO ally.

US pastor's lawyer lodges appeal at top Turkey court

A Turkish prosecutor on Tuesday requested life imprisonment for detained American pastor Andrew Brunson over alleged links to a failed coup attempt in 2016, Dogan news agency reported, a move that could undermine recent efforts to mend bilateral ties.

The U.S. believes that Brunson, who has been jailed pending trial since December 2016, is one of a number of Americans unjustly detained in Turkey. A Christian pastor from North Carolina, Brunson has been living in Turkey for 23 years, running a church, according to an online petition calling for his release.

The prosecutor has charged Brunson of being an &quot;executive&quot; of the terrorist group blamed for the 2016 failed coup, Dogan news agency said. Turkey blames the network of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric for the attempted putsch.

Last year President Tayyip Erdogan suggested that Turkey could free Brunson if the United States handed over Gulen.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last month called for Brunson&#39;s release during a visit to Turkey.

&quot;We continue to have serious concerns... about cases against U.S. citizens who have been arrested under the state of emergency,&quot; Tillerson said, referring to the emergency rule that has been in place since July 2016.

&quot;We call upon Turkey to release Pastor Andrew Brunson and other U.S. citizens whom we believe are being unjustly detained.&quot;

The U.S. and Turkey have been at odds over a number of issues, mainly over support to Kurdish militant group YPG in Syria, a group deemed terrorist by Turkey, and the extradition of Gulen.

Following Tillerson&#39;s visit last month, the two countries formed joint working groups to fix their relations.

The prosecutor has charged Andrew Brunson of being an 'executive' of the terrorist group blamed for the 2016 failed coup

A Turkish prosecutor on Tuesday requested life imprisonment for detained American pastor Andrew Brunson over alleged links to a failed coup attempt in 2016, Dogan news agency reported, a move that could undermine recent efforts to mend bilateral ties. The U.S. believes that Brunson, who has been jailed pending trial since December 2016, is one of a number of Americans unjustly detained in Turkey. A Christian pastor from North Carolina, Brunson has been living in Turkey for 23 years, running a church, according to an online petition calling for his release. The prosecutor has charged Brunson of being an "executive" of the terrorist group blamed for the 2016 failed coup, Dogan news agency said. Turkey blames the network of Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Muslim cleric for the attempted putsch. Last year President Tayyip Erdogan suggested that Turkey could free Brunson if the United States handed over Gulen. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last month called for Brunson's release during a visit to Turkey. "We continue to have serious concerns... about cases against U.S. citizens who have been arrested under the state of emergency," Tillerson said, referring to the emergency rule that has been in place since July 2016. "We call upon Turkey to release Pastor Andrew Brunson and other U.S. citizens whom we believe are being unjustly detained." The U.S. and Turkey have been at odds over a number of issues, mainly over support to Kurdish militant group YPG in Syria, a group deemed terrorist by Turkey, and the extradition of Gulen. Following Tillerson's visit last month, the two countries formed joint working groups to fix their relations.

Turkey seeks life in prison for US pastor over 2016 failed coup: Report

us-pastor

Us Pastor, News on Us Pastor, stories on Us Pastor, articles on Us Pastor, Us Pastor stories at Wion, Us Pastor news, Us Pastor latest news

us pastor

Freed US pastor Andrew Brunson to return home from Turkey in military plane; Trump hails move

Trump says hopes to have freed US pastor 'back home soon'

Turkey court sentences US pastor to over 3 years in jail but allows him to go free

US pastor's lawyer lodges appeal at top Turkey court

Turkey seeks life in prison for US pastor over 2016 failed coup: Report