FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2018

Pastor Andrew Brunson and Wife Depart Turkey

Commissioner Tony Perkins Accompanies Pastor Brunson and Wife Norine on Plane to U.S.

“I want to again commend President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Secretary Pompeo for their steadfast efforts to help ensure Pastor Brunson’s release,” said Commissioner Perkins

WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today announced that Pastor Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine Brunson have boarded a plane to travel to the United States. They are accompanied by Commissioner Tony Perkins, who attended Pastor Brunson’s final hearing at a Turkish court earlier today.

Commissioner Perkins said, “I want to again commend President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Secretary Pompeo for their steadfast efforts to help ensure Pastor Brunson’s release. This has been a difficult ordeal that has gone on for far too long for Pastor Brunson and his family, but today it ends and they can begin a new chapter in their lives.”

Earlier USCIRF released a statement on the Turkish court’s decision to release Pastor Brunson from house arrest.

USCIRF has advocated for Pastor Brunson’s release as part of its Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project: Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga adopted his case for advocacy. To learn more about recent religious freedom conditions in Turkey, see the Turkey chapter in USCIRF’s 2018 Annual Report.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Kellie Boyle at  [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2018

Pastor Andrew Brunson Is Released

“While we welcome this good news, we should not lose sight of other religious freedom concerns in this country,” said Commissioner Perkins

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today welcomed with great satisfaction the decision by a Turkish court to release Pastor Andrew Brunson from house arrest. Pastor Brunson was first detained on October 7, 2016, on false charges and served almost two years in prison before he was placed under house arrest on July 25, 2018.

USCIRF’s Commissioner Tony Perkins, who attended the October 12 hearing, said, “Today’s decision by the Turkish government is good news. We celebrate along with the millions of Americans who have been praying for Pastor Brunson’s release.”

Commissioner Perkins also said, “President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Secretary Pompeo are to be commended for their resolve, not only in defending Pastor Brunson but in defending the fundamental freedom of all people in all places. Additionally, there were many others advocating for Andrew, including USCIRF Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga and former Vice Chair Sandra Jolley.

“While we are relieved by today’s decision on Pastor Brunson’s unjust detention, we remain concerned for the Turkish people because numerous religious communities, such as the Greek Orthodox community and the Alevis, continue to face discrimination and restrictions on registration and ownership of property. Turkey must continue to work to treat all of its citizens equally and with respect for their religious freedom.”

Since the initial detention of Pastor Brunson, USCIRF has repeatedly condemned the charges against him and called for his release.

Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga attended Pastor Brunson’s third hearing on July 18, 2018, and described this experience in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

This year USCIRF placed Turkey on its Tier 2 list of countries that have serious religious freedom violations, and began advocating for Pastor Brunson as part of its Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project.

To learn more about recent religious freedom conditions in Turkey, see the Turkey chapter in USCIRF’s 2018 Annual Report.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Kellie Boyle at  [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2018
 

Open Letter from USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza to Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

Click here to read the Farsi translation of the letter

October 2018

Washington, D.C. –

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani,

I am writing you in my capacity as a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). While I am fully aware this letter may never reach you, in the event that some word of it does, I want you to know that your case is not ignored by the international community. You are not forgotten.

For nearly a decade, the Iranian government has harassed and threatened you. The authorities have not only deprived you of your liberty, your family of their father, your faith community of their pastor, but they have infringed upon your children’s right to education. In 2009, for protesting new compulsory Quranic studies forced on your children and for registering your church, you were charged with apostasy and given a death sentence. Though you were acquitted in a later trial, the authorities continued to harass you and your family.

I was appalled when, in May, an Iranian court upheld a 10-year prison sentence against you for allegedly “acting against national security” by “promoting Zionist Christianity.” Then I read with horror reports of your brutal arrest in July, when security forces broke into your home, assaulted your son and transferred you to the notorious Evin prison. For a person of faith who has simply tried to live out your beliefs in peace, I cannot imagine how challenging these events must be.

While I know this sentiment does little to alleviate the suffering you, your family, and your community are currently enduring, I want you to know that your faith and dedication to justice in standing up to these abuses is an example to others, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof, both in Iran and around the world. If nothing else, I hope you will take away from this letter my deep admiration.

USCIRF, and I personally, will consistently bring attention to your plight. I know that the Iranian people, who are heirs to a rich tableau of faiths and history, want and deserve to live in a society where they are free to pursue the dictates of their own conscience.

I close by reiterating my commitment to advocating for your release and sending my wishes for the wellbeing of your family.

Sincerely,

Nadine Maenza

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Learn more about Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani and USCIRF advocacy efforts on his behalf here.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected] or Kellie Boyle at [email protected] or +1-703-898-6554.