Article

2017-09-29 The Grand Turk

Erdogan to US: Extradite Gulen and We'll Release ~~American Hostage~~ Arrested Pastor

[Hurriyet] President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on the United States to exchange Pennsylvania-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen with Pastor Andrew Brunson, who has been in jail in Turkey since October 2016.

"We have given you all the documents necessary [for the extradition of Gülen]. But they say, ‘give us the pastor.' You have another pastor in your hands. Give us that pastor and we will do what we can in the judiciary to give you this one," Erdoğan said on Sept. 28.

Brunson was taken into custody on Oct. 7, 2016 on suspicion of "being a threat to national security," while Gülen is said to be the mastermind of the July 2016 coup attempt.

Erdoğan did not detail when or to whom he made this proposal. His last meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump took place on Sept. 21 in New York.

Brunson was sent to the immigration authority for deportation with his wife Norine Lyn Brunson following his detention on Oct. 7, but he was arrested after the release of his wife.

It was reported in May 2017 that Trump expressed Washington's demand for the release of Brunson.

"They say, ‘don't get involved with him.' How come? You say you have a judiciary, do you think we don't? Anyway, the one that we have [in our hands] is being tried, the one you have [in your hands] is not being tried. It is easier for you to give," Erdoğan said.
Trump's friendly words for Erdogan were interpreted as weakness.
The big news isn't the blackmail itself but the fact that Erdogan is blackmailing the US in public.
The Trump admin can now choose between a deeply humiliating submission to Erdogan and great harm coming to an innocent American hostage.
As always this is not between the US and Turkey exclusively. Global players will observe and draw conclusions leading to global repercussions.

Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2017-09-29 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top
File under: Sublime Porte

#1 I have been following status of christian pastor Andrew Brunson on Jay Sekulow.
There are no legitimate charges against Andrew.
Andrews arrest has nothing to do with security, but has everything to do with Erdogan's Islamic religious intolerance and extremism toward christians.
Since the invasion of Iraq Erdogan has been driving anti-american sentiment in Turkey and using this anti-american sentiment as well as anti-gulenism and anti Kurdish sentiment to gain dictatorial power and take over Turkey.

Posted by boomerc 2017-09-29 02:25|| 2017-09-29 02:25|| Front Page Top

#2 I'd look for Trump to be saying nice things about a shiny new Kurdistan.

Posted by SteveS 2017-09-29 04:31|| 2017-09-29 04:31|| Front Page Top

#3 Another instance of violence against Christians was the Malatya massacre of 2007.

At the time Erdogan issued a condemnation. But a Turkish justice ministry official said that "Missionary work is even more dangerous than terrorism and unfortunately is not considered a crime in Turkey."

The official Turkish position in 2017 apparently is much better reflected by the latter statement rather than the former.

Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2017-09-29 04:41|| 2017-09-29 04:41|| Front Page Top

#4 Erdogan to US: Extradite Gulen and We'll Release ~~American Hostage~~ ~~Arrested Pastor~~ Sanctimonious Foreigner.

Posted by Skidmark 2017-09-29 10:39|| 2017-09-29 10:39|| Front Page Top

#5 Arrest some of the Turkish security detail here.

Posted by DarthVader 2017-09-29 11:52|| 2017-09-29 11:52|| Front Page Top

#6 Erdogan to US: Extradite Gulen and We'll Release Sanctimonious Foreigner.

The Turkish government, especially under Erdogan has been an official 'Sanctimonious Foreigner' for decades.

Posted by Elmerert Hupens2660 2017-09-29 14:39|| 2017-09-29 14:39|| Front Page Top

#7 Is Erdogan showing preemptive disaproval of any pro-Kurdish move by US (assuming DOD/DOS apparatchiks would allow such...)?

Posted by magpie 2017-09-29 16:47|| 2017-09-29 16:47|| Front Page Top

#8 Erdo is such a thug.
There is no up-side for the World here.

Posted by newc 2017-09-29 19:22|| 2017-09-29 19:22|| Front Page Top

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