Turkish court rejects appeal to release US pastor from house arrest

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s state-run media says a court has rejected an American pastor’s appeal for his release from house arrest and refused to lift his travel ban.

Anadolu Agency says the court in Izmir, western Turkey, on Tuesday reviewed an appeal lodged by Andrew Brunson’s lawyer but rules that there was no change in the “strong criminal suspicion” against him.

The evangelical pastor was arrested in December 2016 and jailed until he was released to home detention last week. He faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted of “committing crimes on behalf of terror groups without being a member” and espionage.

Last week, US President Donald Trump announced possible sanctions against Turkey for its treatment of Brunson.

Brunson’s lawyer Ismail Cem Halavurt cannot immediately be contacted for comment.

— AP