Turkey files new charges against jailed American Pastor Andrew Brunson

The Turkish government has filed new charges against North Carolina Pastor Andrew Brunson, who was jailed in Turkey in October due to his alleged links to the Gülen movement, which has been labeled by the government as a terrorist organization.

Brunson, who has led the Protestant Izmir Resurrection Church in the Aegean coast city for the past 23 years, has been charged with attempting to destroy the country's constitutional order and overthrow the parliament, PJ Media reported, citing Turkish news website Hurriyet.

The pastor reportedly denied the accusations, saying he is only trying to establish churches in Turkey in accordance with laws.

"I don't support any Islamic movement. I have never seen any member of FETÖ (a term used by the government to refer Gülen movement) in my life," the pastor was quoted as saying.

Brunson has reportedly been transferred to a maximum security facility and is currently facing the possibility of four consecutive life sentences. Apart from the two new charges, the pastor was also accused of conducting political and military espionage.

In October last year, Brunson and his wife, Norine, found a note on their door, telling them to report to the migration management office for what they thought would be a visit related to the renewal of their visas. The couple was instead detained by the officials, but Norine was eventually released and allowed to stay in the country.

In December, Brunson was sent to jail based on the accusation that he was a member of an "armed terrorist organization."

When Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan visited Washington in May, the White House stated that President Donald Trump had "raised the incarceration of Pastor Andrew Brunson and asked that the Turkish Government expeditiously return him to the United States."

Erdoğan has called for the extradition of exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen, who is currently living in Pennsylvania. Since the failed July coup attempt in Turkey, the government has linked perceived opponents of the Turkish president to Gülen's "terrorist" movement, with often no evidence.

Earlier this month, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the U.S. government "continues to advocate" for the release of Brunson, "who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Turkey."

"Pastor Brunson has not been forgotten," State Department press secretary Heather Nauert told reporters. "The safety and security of Americans is one of our top priorities here at the State Department," she added.

Nauert noted that consular officers have been visiting Brunson "regularly," but she said did not know when they last saw the pastor.

Brunson is currently being represented by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). The pastor reportedly was not allowed visits from U.S. consular officials in the first 30 days of his detention and was only provided a lawyer at the Dec. 9 hearing in which he was ordered held behind bars, according to CeCe Heil, senior counsel for the ACLJ.