American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since October 2016 on false terror and espionage charges, received a visit Wednesday from U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., inside Buca Prison in Izmir.
Tillis’ visit comes as Brunson, who hails from Black Mountain, North Carolina, and has pastored at a church in Izmir for the last two decades, could face up to 35 years in prison.
“Pastor Brunson is strengthened by his love for his family and his faith in God, but his health has deteriorated,” Tillis said in a statement following the visit. “He has lost 50 pounds and spends 24 hours a day in a cell with limited human contact.”
According to Tillis, Brunson is trying to visit a doctor this week, which would require him being transferred with several guards while being handcuffed.
“He fears the possibility that the American government accepts the indictment and forgets about him, which we will not allow to happen,” Tillis assured. “There should be no mistake that Pastor Brunson is the victim of false accusations, and we call upon the Turkish authorities to honestly and transparently review his indictment.”
Advocates say that Bruson has been falsely accused of having links to the U.S.-based Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen and his FETO network. The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused Gulen of organizing the 2016 coup attempt.
The charges against Brunson are based off testimony from a supposed secret witness. The identity of the witness has not been revealed.
Erdoğan suggested last year that Brunson could be released if the U.S….
… Read More
—-
Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Urban Christian News