5 Things That Happened at Andrew Brunson's Court Hearing in Turkey

By Samuel Smith, Deputy Managing Editor Friday, October 12, 2018

5. Turkish pastors not allowed in courtroom during morning session

Pastor Bill Devlin stands outside of the prison courtroom in Aliaga, Turkey on Oct. 11, 2018. | (Photo: Bill Devlin)

Devlin and Weber both noted that a group of Turkish pastors who were there to support Brunson were not allowed into the hearing during the morning session and were told by security to wait until they are called to go into the hearing.

According to Devlin, two of the Turkish pastors wanted to testify on Brunson's behalf.

"There was a huge crowd trying to get in. There were a [few] Americans, it was the Turkish media, international media, Turkish diplomats and Turkish pastors. At one point, at 10 a.m. this morning, they let in the diplomat's and some of the media," Devlin said. "Then they said to everybody, 'Go back, you are going to be called to come in.' Well, when everybody was streaming out, I went in."

Although a police officer tried to stop Devlin from going in, Devlin insisted and the officer didn't put up much of an argument.

Although the Turkish pastors were prevented from attending the morning session, it was not due to a lack of space in the courtroom.

"The courtroom was very large and it is an converted gym of some type. It is almost funny how much empty seating there was in the middle," Weber detailed. "We were way in the back on a bleacher-type setup with chairs. The judges were up front and the prosecutors were sitting alongside the judges, which is quite unusual for us. The defense attorney [was] on the side, not next to Pastor Brunson, so he could not confer with him during the proceedings."

"It was a very large room, pretty empty," Weber continued. "It was very odd because there seemed to see a glimpse of professionalism in some ways that were happening. The room was modern and had technology. On surface, it seemed well run but when you really contrast that with the way this case was run in terms of the fairness of the trial and the presentation of witnesses and evidence and the conclusions, it really is huge contrast with the surface picture that one got."

FRC said Brunson left on a flight Friday back to the U.S. with Perkins.

Just landed at Andrews AFB with Pastor Brunson and his wife Norine. They are thankful to be safely home in the USA. Under this administration being an American means something! @realDonaldTrump @VP @SecPompeo pic.twitter.com/YOjoEOCX6k
— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) October 13, 2018