The 50-year-old evangelical pastor from Black Mountain, North Carolina, faces up 35-years in prison in Turkey, on charges that he aided terror groups and engaged in espionage. The pastor of the Izmir Resurrection Church denies any wrongdoing. There is not one photograph or tape recording praising the PKK at the (Izmir) Resurrection Church. Brunson served as pastor of Izmir Resurrection Church, a small Protestant congregation, and has lived in Turkey for 23 years. The indictment against him — based on the testimony of witnesses, including three secret ones, and digital evidence — claims the pastor worked to convert Kurds to Christianity to sow discord in Turkey.

Source: Washington Post May 07, 2018 13:12 UTC