Turkish Court Keeps US Pastor in Jail, Washington Says Deeply Concerned

Turkish Court Keeps US Pastor in Jail, Washington Says Deeply Concerned
This undated photo made available by the Dogan News Agency on March 13, 2018 shows Andrew Brunson, an American pastor, in Izmir. STR/AFP/Getty Images
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ALIAGA, Turkey—A Turkish court decided on July 18 to keep an American pastor in jail, dashing hopes that he could be released during his trial on terrorism and spying charges, a case that has deepened a rift with NATO ally Washington.

Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor from North Carolina who has lived in Turkey for more than two decades, was indicted on charges of helping the group that Ankara blames for the failed 2016 coup against President Tayyip Erdogan, as well as supporting outlawed PKK Kurdish militants.