US pastor Brunson’s lawyer files appeal to Turkish Constitutional Court

ISTANBUL

A lawyer for United States pastor Andrew Brunson whose detention in Turkey sparked a crisis with Washington has appealed to the Turkish Constitutional Court for his release from house arrest.

The lawyer, İsmail Cem Halavurt, had repeatedly applied to appeal courts for Brunson’s release.

The pastor was detained in October 2016 and sent to house arrest in July pending trial for his alleged ties with the illegal PKK and FETÖ.

The case of Brunson, whose next regular court hearing is on Oct. 12, has become a divisive issue in a worsening diplomatic row between Ankara and Washington, as the U.S. has imposed sanctions against two Turkish ministers and Turkey retaliated.

U.S. President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials made several calls on Turkey for the release of the pastor, who has been living in Turkey for decades leading a church in the Aegean province of İzmir.

The case and the spats arising from it often cause fluctuation in the value of the Turkish Lira.