Vice President Mike Pence has threatened to place sanctions on NATO ally Turkey over detained American pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been imprisoned in the Muslim-majority country since 2016 on trumped-up terrorism charges.
Speaking Thursday during the U.S. State Department’s Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, Pence sent a bold and clear message to Turkish President Recep Erdogan, demanding the immediate release of Brunson.
If Turkey does not take immediate action to free this innocent man of faith and send him home to America, the United States will impose significant sanctions on Turkey until Pastor Andrew Brunson is free. #IRFMinisterial
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) July 26, 2018
“Pastor Andrew Brunson is an innocent man,” Pence said Thursday. “There is no credible evidence against him. Our entire administration has worked tirelessly to ensure Pastor Brunson’s release.”
The vice president’s remarks came one day after Turkey’s state-run media announced Brunson will be moved to house arrest following his latest court hearing. He is being transferred out of prison reportedly due to “health problems.”
If Turkey does not take immediate action to free Pastor Andrew Brunson and send him home to America, the United States will impose significant sanctions on Turkey until this innocent man of faith is free. pic.twitter.com/GM9WohpMRm
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) July 26, 2018
Pence described the decision to move the minister, a North Carolina native, to house arrest as a “welcome first step,” but added, “It is not good enough.” He went on to encourage Christians in the U.S. to continue to pray for Brunson’s homecoming.
“And to President Erogan and the Turkish government, I have a message. … Release Pastor Andrew Brunson now or be prepared to face the consequences,” Pence declared, noting the U.S. will impose “significant sanctions” on Turkey until the pastor has been freed.
In mid-July, Brunson was denied release during his third court appearance. Judges in the Middle Eastern country scheduled his next court hearing for Oct. 12.
If convicted, the American pastor could face up to 15 years in prison for “committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member.” A handful of sources have suggested he has connections to the country’s outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a link Brunson has vehemently denied.
President Donald Trump, for his part, has described Turkey’s imprisonment of Brunson as “a total disgrace,” adding, “He has done nothing wrong, and his family needs him.”