Tillis Invited Pastor Brunson to Mark the One-Year Anniversary of Pastor Brunson’s Release from Turkish Custody
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Pastor Andrew Brunson delivered the opening prayer in the United States Senate to commemorate the one-year anniversary of his release from Turkish custody. Senator Tillis invited Pastor Brunson and worked throughout 2018 to help secure his release. Pastor Brunson, a North Carolina native, was facing an effective life sentence in Turkey, falsely accused of crimes he did not commit.
Watch Pastor Brunson give the opening prayer HERE.
Watch Senator Tillis’ floor speech on Pastor Brunson’s visit to the U.S. Senate HERE.
Background:
In March 2018, Senator Tillis visited Pastor Brunson in a Turkish prison where he was awaiting trial. Tillis returned three weeks later for the first hearing of the trial. On April 20th, Senator Tillis led a bipartisan letter signed by 71 senators to President Erdogan calling for Brunson’s release and Tillis spoke on the Senate floor nearly every week the Senate was in session to call for his release and bring attention to his plight. Senator Tillis took legislative action to apply pressure on Turkey, working on a bipartisan basis to secure language in the FY19 NDAA that would effectively delay the transfer of F-35s to Turkey. The Turkish Government finally released Pastor Brunson on October 12, 2018.
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