Another triumph of Trump administration diplomacy. The Erdogan regime had hoped to trade Brunson for Fetuhullah Gulen, whom Erdogan has scapegoated as the supposed leader of a coup against him (Gulen and Erdogan are both adherents of political Islam; their rift is personal). Instead, Brunson is coming home.
“Pastor Andrew Brunson released to U.S. diplomatic personnel after being detained by Turkish authorities for two years,” by Erin Cunningham, Washington Post, October 12, 2018:
BREAKING: Brunson will be departing his apartment in Turkey to go to the airport to leave the country. His lawyer, Jay Sekulow, said Brunson will be flown to a U.S. air base in Germany where he will be evaluated and eventually flown back to the United States.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
ALIAGA, Turkey — A Turkish court on Friday convicted American pastor Andrew Brunson of aiding terrorism but sentenced him to time served and ordered his immediate release.
The case of the evangelical preacher caught up in Turkey’s post-coup security sweep had garnered attention at the highest levels of the U.S. government and become a sore point in the two countries’ relations.
Within minutes of the verdict, President Trump tweeted, “working very hard on Pastor Brunson.”
“PASTOR BRUNSON JUST RELEASED,” he tweeted later. “WILL BE HOME SOON!”
Turkish soldiers stand guard outside the entrance to Aliaga Prison Court after American pastor Andrew Brunson arrived ahead of his court hearing on Friday in Izmir, Turkey. (Chris Mcgrath/Getty Images)
While Brunson, 50, was convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to three years in prison, the judge reduced his sentence to two years time served for good behavior. The pastor has been held under house arrest since July, for health reasons, but that arrangement was also ended so he could leave the country.
“The verdict was the best of a bad situation,” Brunson’s defense attorney, Ismail Cem Halavurt, said outside the courthouse in western Turkey.
Of Brunson’s plans to travel to the United States, Halavurt said: “He is going to go.”
“But I hope he is able to come back,” he added. “He is someone who absolutely loves Turkey.”
The cleric, who is from North Carolina, wept and embraced his wife, Norine, as they waited for the judge to issue the ruling Friday.
His trial had resumed Friday in Aliaga, a district roughly 40 miles from his longtime home in the city of Izmir, just hours after U.S. officials said a deal had been reached with Turkish authorities to secure his release.
He headed a small evangelical congregation in Izmir until his detention two years ago.
The pastor has been held since then on what he and the Trump administration said were false terrorism- and espionage-related charges. Prosecutors accused him of being linked both to Kurdish separatists and to the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Turkish authorities say orchestrated a failed coup attempt in 2016….
Brunson, who sat alone in front of a panel of judges and the state prosecutor, was also allowed to speak following each witness’s testimony.
“I never met any PKK fighters,” he said to the judges in Turkish.
In his final statement to the court just before the verdict was issued, Brunson said: “I’m an innocent man. I love Jesus. I love this country,” and broke down in tears.
Buraq says
This was the litmus test for Trump’s policy of kicking the stuffing out of a recalcitrant’s economy to get his way. It is a brilliant tactic! The Turkish Lira is tumbling, building work across the country has come to a halt, shopping malls for the middle classes have begun to close because the rents have become too steep for the vendors due to the Turkish currency’s rapid loss of value – they pay their rents in Euros or US Dollars.
And not a single serviceman or woman has been risked on the battlefield! Bloodless, yet terrifying. I’ll bet the mad Mullahs in Tehran will have noted how Trump’s whack-a-currency tactic has worked brilliantly.
These clowns had better watch out!
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Buraq, it is not a victory for savage mad devil Trump because the spy of the treacherous evil United States Bruston was convicted (ie, found guilty) as charged. According to the law where a culprit exausted the prison term during trial, the appropriate order tò make is to take into account the period he served, if it is upto the period of prison term he is suppose to serve, he is taken to have completed the prison term and he will be released from prison.
So, contrary to pressure by savage mad devil Trump to release the spy unconditionally, judicial process has been followed to the end. The evil United States is now exposed as untrustworthy and unfriendly to its so-called allies. Buraq, contrary to your wishful thinking, Turkish economy has now returned to fast growth, thanks to increased foreign investments,especially from Qatar and China. Try again!
gravenimage says
I see that Ibrahim itace muhammed is against just spamming. See his virtually identical post below.
R Russell says
Ibrahim,
I feel so sorry for you. Every so often you come on here to try to justify your religion which teaches the telling of lies to make it look good. (Taqiyya)
Deep in your heart you know your devotion to Allah doesn’t satisfy you. The more you try to get your faith to be satisfying the more disappointed you become. Ask the Bible Jesus to appear to you in a dream. You wont be committing shirk. Many Muslims have found him to be a good friend. He can be a friend of yours as well.
Indiana Tom says
Keeping the Sabbath holy, making no graven images, and not taking the the Lord’s name in vain don’t really qualify as “righteous” behavior as far as I’m concerned.
China loves its debt traps, ask Sri Lanka.
Indiana Tom says
Should read….
Turkish economy has now returned to fast growth, thanks to increased foreign investments,especially from Qatar and China.
China loves its debt traps, ask Sri Lanka.
Next: autonomous self-driving cars where nothing can go wrong.
Indiana Tom says
The evil United States is now exposed as untrustworthy and unfriendly to its so-called allies.
I would agree that Turkey is a so called ally, but they really are not.
Hecor Archytas says
Ibrahim itace muhammed came to cut his neck. Don’t forget the verse 8:12. You are the man.
We want to see this!
ElderlyZionist says
Well done, President Trump. Again.
StellaSaidSo says
+1
an says
I wish we had a Trump to fight for British interests instead of the posturing clown called Theresa May who seems to think her job consists of dancing to the tune of any other country but her own.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2018/oct/03/theresa-may-dances-on-to-the-stage-at-the-tory-party-conference-v
David Grisez says
President Donald Trump has accomplished the release of Pastor Andrew Brunson. This is something our previous President Barack Obama would never have done.
Z says
Explain to me why one of our ‘allies’ is Turkey? They used one of our people as a scapegoat and turned their so called democracy into a tragedy?
gravenimage says
Good questions, Z. Turkey is no ally of ours.
ElderlyZionist says
Erdogan’s Turkey is a frenemy that we had better keep on a short leash.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
The fact still that spy of the treacherous evil United States is convicted as charged. He has already served the prison term before conviction. The law says where a culprit served the prison term to him during trial ,such period shall be taken into account while sentencing him. So,the verdict has nothing to do with pressure from savage mad devil Trump as speculated. The evil United States is now fully exposed as untrustworthy. scum of evils!!
gravenimage says
Is Ibrahim itace muhammed saying that the prison sentence in Turkey for plotting to murder Erdogan–which the peaceful Pastor Brunson was grotesquely charged with–is just two years? What rot.
It is pretty obvious that Erdogan realized that he was pushing his luck with Trump, and would never get Gulen handed over to him, and decided to cut his losses.
Westman says
I would posit, in addition to Brunson being unuseful to get Gulen, Erdogan did not want to be compared to Kim Jong-un who released an American political prisoner who shortly died due to NK abuse. There were reports of Pastor Brunson’s failing health; running out the clock for Erdogan.
gravenimage says
Also true, Westman.
gravenimage says
Another point re what Ibrahim itace muhammed says about time served–originally Turkey threatened to imprison Pastor Brunson for thirty-five years.
gravenimage says
Turkey releases US Pastor Andrew Brunson after holding him for two years on false charges
………………
This is *excellent* news! I am so happy for him and his family!
And that we did not do Erdogan’s bidding in return is also good news–not that I want the nasty Fetuhullah Gulen in the United States–but handing him over to Erdogan would have set a very dangerous precedent.
Mo says
GI. This is an answer to the prayers of many people all over the world. So pleased for the pastor and his family. Hope he will recover good health. Great to see some good news coming out of Turkey -there hasn’t been much of that recently!
gravenimage says
Agreed, Mo!
R Russell says
Praise God for his goodness
Kepha says
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were as those who dream (Ps. 126:1). Amen and Amen.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
R Russel, Jesus as we know him has nothing to do with your rubbish pagan christianity from mithraism inspired by the satan you call Holy Spirit.The moment he descends you will realise what i have been saying. I hope you will be alive when he descends, if you are dead then you will be burning in the hottest lake of hellfire together with the satan who misleads you. Drop that rubbish before you die , come to Islam the only way to salvation.
mithraist christians never feel ashamed to tell lies inspired by the satan you call Holy Spirit as it is evident from this site created to spread lies against Islam. Such lies cannot save mithraist filthy christianity, it will be a past history like other pagan religions inspired by the satan.
FYI says
The concept of that Holy Spirit which you constantly attack is revealed in the Gospel .. a book that allah says he wrote{koran3:3}
So, in the Gospel which allah says he wrote {k3;3},is revealed the Theology of the Trinity.
In koran 4:171 however,allah reveals he completely MISUNDERSTANDS the Theology of the Trinity:something which he had PREVIOUSLY explained and revealed in the Gospel he says he wrote.
And it is not a polytheistic system….
Remember:-
The Trinity is something which he had explained PREVIOUSLY in the Gospel he says he wrote.
Yet,the koran completely misunderstands and denies what allah PREVIOUSLY explained in the Gospel
{ a book which he says is TRUE k5:46}
(Yes,allah DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THEOLOGY….he Gets it all wrong.allah MAKES MISTAKES)
So, in the koran which allah says he wrote, it is revealed that allah doesn’t understand the Theology behind something which he had PREVIOUSLY revealed in the Gospel{ a book allah says is TRUE k5:46}}
Since,according to allah,the Gospel is TRUE{k5:46} and since the koran CONTRADICTS AND DENIES what is in the Gospel{which allah says is TRUE k5:46}….the koran must be WRONG.
…which it is:completely wrong.
Are you understanding any of this?Of course not…
the fact that allah in his koran cannot even understand the Theology of the Trinity[especially since it was revealed and explained earlier in the Gospel which he says in koran 5 v 46 is TRUE}is simply hilarious.Suffice to say the Trinity is a MONOTHEISTIC system.
allah doesn’t understand that.
allah,in his “perfect” book that has no errors in it, has got the Theology of the Trinity COMPLETELY WRONG.
BTW,In the Bible {which allah says he wrote k3:3},is revealed the future SURVIVAL of christianity..
And allah CONDEMNS muslims who attack the Bible..in koran 5 v 47
“Whoso judgeth not by that which allah hath revealed:such are EVIL -livers”
Of course,Grasshopper,none of this will you wish to understand;a toilet bowl stain has a better chance of understanding it than you..
taliban student: one..two..three..
allah CEASE! say not “three” it’s better for you {koran 4:171}
taliban student..ok allah….one…two…four ..five
allah excellent student! say not “three”:it’s so much better for you isn’t it?
Kepha says
Among the reasons why this Christian could never become a Muslim. Add that to the nonsense about the Jews saying Ezra is the Son of God as Christians say Jesus is!
But this is why I believe Islam is human rather than Satanic (even if it is still Hellish and iutter blasphemy as well). Satan could probably come up with a somewhat less ignorant misrepresentation.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
FYI, your mithraist Bible has nothing to do with Injeel (the gospels) revealed to Prophet Jesus, it is a combination of pagan doctrines like Godman, begotten son of God and the satan you call Holy Spirit as the breath or wisdom of God and speculative stories about Jesus (not certain that Jesus said it) . There is nowhere in the Quran it is stated that Allah wrote the words of your mithraist Bible. The term “katabna “simply means it was from the divine knowledge contained in the preserved table the messages were communicated to prophets like Jesus, Moses and muhammad in human languages like Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
FYI, there is nowhere in the Quran it is stated that Allah wrote the words of your mithraist pagan Bible inspired by the satan you call Holy Spirit. Your mithraist Bible is not the same thing as the Injeel revealed to Prophet Jesus.
gravenimage says
The vile Ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
R Russel, Jesus as we know him has nothing to do with your rubbish pagan christianity from mithraism inspired by the satan you call Holy Spirit.The moment he descends you will realise what i have been saying. I hope you will be alive when he descends, if you are dead then you will be burning in the hottest lake of hellfire together with the satan who misleads you.
……………………………..
Ibrahim itace muhammed is talking about the vicious Muslim “Jesus”–really, “Isa”–who is not the Savior, not a healer or a peacemaker, but whose main role in Islam is to *murder Christians*.
More:
Drop that rubbish before you die , come to Islam the only way to salvation.
……………………………..
We all know what this “invitation to Islam” is–if you don’t accept, Muslims like Ibrahim itace muhammed believe they have the right to murder you.
More:
mithraist christians never feel ashamed to tell lies inspired by the satan you call Holy Spirit as it is evident from this site created to spread lies against Islam. Such lies cannot save mithraist filthy christianity, it will be a past history like other pagan religions inspired by the satan.
……………………………..
What lies has Jihad Watch ever told about Islam? Of course, he has no examples. By “lies”, Ibrahim itace muhammed means inconvenient truths about Islam.
More, in reply to FYI:
FYI, your mithraist Bible has nothing to do with Injeel (the gospels) revealed to Prophet Jesus,
……………………………..
Yes–Muslims claim that the “real” ‘Torat’ and ‘Injeel’ are just as savage as the Qur’an, and that all that is good and beautiful in those books is “corrupted” by Jews and Christians.
Never mind that Muslims have never been able to produce any proof for these phantom books., But then, what do pious Muslims care about proof and truth?
More:
…it is a combination of pagan doctrines like Godman, begotten son of God and the satan you call Holy Spirit as the breath or wisdom of God and speculative stories about Jesus (not certain that Jesus said it) . There is nowhere in the Quran it is stated that Allah wrote the words of your mithraist Bible. The term “katabna “simply means it was from the divine knowledge contained in the preserved table the messages were communicated to prophets like Jesus, Moses and muhammad in human languages like Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic.
……………………………..
None of which, of course, exist. Muslims also claim that all the Jewish prophets were also actually Muslim, as well.
Rev G says
What makes this so humorous is that there are no real links or similarities between Mithraism and Christianity. A lot of myth to that effect, and even an accusation against the Mithraists by Justin Martyr, but scholars have found no actual adoption of material in either direction between the two belief systems. Apparently islam never got the message.
R Russell says
Ibrahim,
I give your curses back to you. I refuse to accept them.
Your threats are only there to make you feel superior – something your ideology teaches you. I don’t have to threaten you. The Jesus of the Bible gives me the power to forgive my enemies.
What was the Injeel Mohammed knew about? Will you be able to say what it is?
Will you be able to use it to substantiate your claims?
You shouldn’t find it hard to find that Injeel. It is still available today.
Meanwhile you still cling to the Jesus that Mohammed heard about from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas which is a proven fake document. The Jesus in the infancy Gospel of Thomas is a fake. Why would Gabriel use a fake document to tell Mohammed about Jesus?
Research it. You will find it as a fake with all the reasons it is known to be a fake. Then go to the Injeel which was available to Mohammed when he was alive. Find out who the Jesus of the Injeel is.
It isn’t shirk to do some genuine investigations.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
R Russel, prophet never made reference to Gospel of Thomas, he received revelations directly from Allah known as Furqan (criterion) to distinguish between truth and falsehood in Christian and jewish scriptures. so, he needs not make reference to any of the existing scriptures corrupted because he got the information directly from the source.
R Russell says
Ibrahim
Perhaps I never made it clear.
Mohammed said he got revelations from Gabriel.
What Mohammed had written in the Koran about the childhood of Jesus as coming from Gabriel can be proved to be from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, a forged account known to be circulating in Arabia in the time of Mohammed.
So if this forged Infancy Gospel of Thomas contains the same information as what Mohammed says was told to him by Gabriel what are we meant to believe?
You still haven’t answered me about the Injeel (and Torah) which were available to Mohammed and are still available today.
I got some information from David Wood. I don’t expect you to like him so can you please tell me where he got it wrong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KjoeFkK7xA
It seems that Mohammed really believed that the Injeel and Torah which were available to him and are still available today could be used to verify or refute what he, Mohammed had written down as coming from Gabriel.
These are two puzzles.
gravenimage says
Good post, R Russell.
Hecor Archytas says
The pastor is guilty to be a pastor. Obviously, we need to spread Deism and Christianism in Turkey.
Mo says
Lol. What does mithraist mean? Is it even a word? Kissing the black stone was done by the pagan Arabs so why do Muslims do a pagan act of worship? Are they pagans too?
gravenimage says
Yes, it’s a word, Mo. It refers to an obscure cult in Imperial Rome. Its only slight connection with Christianity is that early Christian artists used a few aspects of imagery, like the halo.
Otherwise, they have nothing in common–Mithraism was a military cult.
But Ibrahim itace muhammed believes that if he can get people to believe that Christianity is “mithraist” and hence pagan, that we will agree that Muslims have the right to mass slaughter Christians.
Not only is Christianity not mithraist, but civilized people don’t mass slaughter pagans, either.
Brian says
God answers prayer
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
R Russel, forget about confused Devil wood, he has no indepth knowledge on Islam.He could not know that when the Quran asked people to confirm what was revealed to Prophet Muhammad from jewish scriptures, it is a general statement that they contained some common informations revealed to Prophet Muhammad, not confirming all the scriptures available at the hands of mithraist christians and Jews at that . some other specific verses of the Quran identified some doctrines like Godman and begotten son of God as kufr, not taught by Jesus,and these doctrines are the core of mithraist christianity.
Rev G says
Nobody can have in-depth knowledge of islam, it has no depth. It is a shallow pagan death cult.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
pagan Rev. G, it is because you are not learned you cannot have access to such indepth knowledge on Islam , you simply rely on the concocted lies by Christian evangelist liars of old debunked for long.Ignorant fool!!
R Russell says
Ibrahim.
1.What about the Infancy Gospel of Thomas?
2. Mohammed told Christians and Jews to find out from the Torah and Injeels if the Koran is true? How has that changed?
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
R Russel, see my explanation above
R Russell says
Ibrahim.
You haven’t answered the questions I have asked
Sam says
Now that Pastor Brunson is free, Pres. Trump please do not establish normal relations with Turkey unless Erdogan recuses himself from power. Erdogan is an Islamist hell bent on causing enmity with ordinary folks. Moreover, he has an intrinsic hatred for Christians and the West. The only reason he feigns friendship is to garner concessions for a less than reasonable religion
learning islam says
Virgins await those who enter paradise. 2:25
Virgins await those who enter paradise. 4:57
It’s permissible to have sex with your wives during Ramadan (at least after sunset). In fact you must “hold intercourse with them.” All of them. It is your sacred Muslim duty. 2:187
All good Muslim men should stay away from menstruating women And don’t have sex with them while they’re menstruating. It disturbs Allah just to think of it. 2:222a
After the women clean up you can have sex with them whenever you want. Allah loves clean men as much as he hates menstruating women. 2:222b
In the mind of Allah, women are like a field for men to plow. Plow them whenever you like (as long as they’re not menstruating, of course.) 2:223
When a man dies, his wives can’t have sex for four months and ten days. After that, if they’re not pregnant, it’s no sin for the dead man if his wives have sex again. 2:234
“Pure companions, and contentment from Allah.” Virgins await those who enter paradise. 3:15
Lewd women are to be confined to their houses until death. 4:15
If any of your women are lewd, cut off their inheritance. 4:19
If your slave wives are guilty of lewdness, punish them half as much as you punish your lewd free wives. 4:25
Men are in charge of women, because Allah made men to be better than women. Women must obey men, and if they refuse they must be punished. A husband may withhold sex from a disobedient wife. Disobedient wives may be beaten 4:34
Adam and his nameless wife (Eve?) didn’t know they were naked until they ate from the tree. 7:22
Lot offers his daughters to a mob of angel rapers. 11:78 and 15:71
“She bolted the doors and said: Come!” 12:23
You don’t have to be modest around your wives or your slave girls “that your right hand possess.” 23:6
The single-minded slaves of Allah will enjoy a Garden filled with lovely-eyed virgins. 37:40-48
Female companions await those who enter the Gardens of Eden on the Day of Reckoning. 38:52
Allah will reward faithful Muslims after they die with “fair ones with wide, lovely eyes.” 44:54
Allah will reward those in the Garden with beautiful wives with wide, lovely eyes. 52:20
Allah will give those in the Garden women of modest gaze whom neither man nor jinn have touched. 55:56, 55:72-74
Those in the Garden will be attended by immortal youths with wide, lovely eyes. 56:17-23
Allah made virgins to be lovers and friends to those on his right hand. 56:36-37
“O Prophet! Why bannest thou that which Allah hath made lawful for thee, seeking to please thy wives?”
Allah says that Muhammad can have sex with any of his wives whenever he wants. 66:1
Those in the Garden will be waited on by immortal youths, as beautiful as scattered pearls. 76:19
Those in the Garden will have maidens for companions. 78:33
learning islam says
Please Google
holy quran about the wonderful Islamic paradise
brotherformission
you believe that these 72 virgins, 300 boys , moving date palm trees, honey, soft silk garments, cup of wine serving by black eyed white girl etc , really all this stuff is in the paradise for one Muslim man? or just imagination. I think Mohamed want to attract his tribal desert boudivins by offering this kind of materials.Why Mohammad prefer only white girls? Then what happened all black and brown girls???? Please critically think about this paradise!
you should not say any one is going to hell or not it is up to allah what if he became a Muslim how cane he go to hell. just say allah ysamehak (my allah forgive you)
Please Google
Paradise الجنة
CEMB Forum
A castle made of gold and silver bricks. castle has four doors?
A gold brick here a silver one there. Servants ? And angels too? And rubies
I never thought I’d still be able to be shocked at religious retardism, but that guy’s description of heaven is so unbelievably stupid, transparent, infantile, selfish, and clearly made-up on the spot, I am utterly floored!
The first half (of this video) sounds like a description of an ancient Roman Emperor’s orgy.
How can anyone believe such nonsense, and yet be walking around in the 21st. century?
More than anything, the descriptions of heaven show that religion was made to control people. Everything an ancient desert sweller could want is in heaven. As Sam Harris said, if these prophets were around now, the descriptions of heaven would contain glass skyscrapers and shiny new cars
FYI says Sep 30, 2018 at 6:48 pm
A Jew commits murder
It is a sin against God: a violation of the 6th commandment
It is contrary to the Torah
Repent of the evil and avail of God’s Mercy
A Christian commits murder
It is a sin against God: a violation of the 6th commandment
It is contrary to the Gospel
Repent of the evil and avail of God’s Mercy
A muslim commits murder of a non-muslim
It is Ok because he was simply “slaying the unbelievers” k2:191 {in violation of the 6th cmdt!}I
It is OK according to the koran
No need to repent: allah rewards the murderers of infidels in paradise and his 70 family members redeem – violent psychotic
BUT..it is STILL a sin against God according to the Laws of God {Exodus 20}
in that Bible..a book that allah says he wrote{koran 3:3}..yet we see allah DISAGREES with these laws in his koran!
Carol the 1st says
Dr. Jay smith and convert Al Fadi have done a series of videos together on historical Islam. It might start to pry Ibrahim’s mind open if he watched them.
“Al Fadi, is a former Wahabbi Muslim from Saudi Arabia and the founder of CIRA International: The Center for Islamic Research and Awareness. He is the researcher, editor, writer, and translator for numerous ministries, including “Answering Islam” and runs an outreach ministry designed for non-Muslim and Christians.”
It’s probably rare for someone from Saudi Arabia to break free from the shackles of Wahabbism. In the video below Al Fadi recounts his journey to Christianity:
Saudi Muslim Became Christian / The Quran Dilema – Al Fadi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZqD590ZB4w
Vicky says
Turkey is no ally of the United States or any other civilized country that espouses freedom. It should be ousted from NATO.