Written declaration No. 651 | Doc. 14492 | 25 January 2018

Turkey must free Pastor Brunson

Signatories: Mr Valeriu GHILETCHI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Ms Boriana ÅBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Volodymyr ARIEV, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Viorel Riceard BADEA, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Boryslav BEREZA, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Seán CROWE, Ireland, UEL ; Mr Samvel FARMANYAN, Armenia, EPP/CD ; Mr José Ramón GARCÍA HERNÁNDEZ, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Marco GATTI, San Marino, EPP/CD ; Mr Andrzej HALICKI, Poland, EPP/CD ; Ms Elvira KOVÁCS, Serbia, EPP/CD ; Sir Edward LEIGH, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Martine MERGEN, Luxembourg, EPP/CD ; Mr Rónán MULLEN, Ireland, EPP/CD ; Mr Killion MUNYAMA, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Zsolt NÉMETH, Hungary, EPP/CD ; Mr Pieter OMTZIGT, Netherlands, EPP/CD ; Mr Joseph O'REILLY, Ireland, EPP/CD ; Ms María Concepción de SANTA ANA, Spain, EPP/CD ; Mr Serhiy SOBOLEV, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Davor Ivo STIER, Croatia, EPP/CD ; Mr Ionuț-Marian STROE, Romania, EPP/CD ; Mr Michael SVENSSON, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Leonid YEMETS, Ukraine, EPP/CD

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

Andrew Brunson, a United States citizen, who has served as a pastor in Turkey over 23 years, is being unjustly held in a Turkish prison for now more than 405 days, without any reasons, and in blatant violation of his rights. There, he has lived under inhumane conditions and lost over 50 pounds. While no evidence had ever been set forth to substantiate any crime from him, the Turkish authorities have systematically denied the multiple appeals contesting his detention. Access to his file remains impossible as it has been sealed and proceedings are stuck at the investigation stage. There is no indication if or when an indictment may be coming.

Truth is that Brunson’s incarceration has become a bargaining chip for Turkey since the Turkish President lastly demanded a swap of Brunson for Fethullah Gülen, the person Erdoğan blames for the failed coup attempt in July of 2016, and who has now found refuge in the United States. Such blackmailing on behalf of a human life must never take place within the European human rights arena and it is urgent that Turkey respects its European commitments in putting an immediate end to this scandalous situation.