Andrew Brunson, the American pastor who has been imprisoned in Turkey for more than 21 months, has been moved to house arrest, according to a Turkish newspaper.
The Daily Sabah said the Second High Penal Court in Izmir ordered Wednesday that Brunson be moved to his home in Izmir due to “health issues.”
The court also imposed a ban on Brunson leaving the country.
The same court on July 18 ordered that Brunson remain imprisoned until an Oct. 12 hearing.
“We are very thankful for this court ruling to allow Andrew to be detained at his house instead of behind bars, where he has spent more than 21 months,” said Jeff Jeremiah, the stated clerk, or overseer, of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Brunson’s denomination.
“At the same time, this trial is not over. He is still facing serious charges so we press on in praying, fasting, and advocating for Andrew,” Jeremiah said.
Brunson, who has lived in Turkey since 1993, was arrested in October 2016. He later was charged, without evidence, of having links to Fethullah Gülen, the Turkish cleric Ankara blames for the failed coup attempt in 2016.
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