By Kubra Chohan
ANKARA (AA) – Turkey on Thursday slammed remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump after he threatened the country with sanctions unless Ankara releases a detained American pastor.
“No one dictates Turkey. We will never tolerate threats from anybody. Rule of law is for everyone; no exception,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted.
In an attempt to interfere with NATO-member Turkey's judiciary, Trump tweeted: “The United States will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson. ”
Brunson was transferred to house arrest Wednesday after being detained in the Aegean province of Izmir in December 2016. He was charged with spying for the PKK — a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey — and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group Turkey accuses of orchestrating the defeated July 2016 coup attempt.
Earlier, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in a tweet threatened to impose “significant sanctions on Turkey until this innocent man of faith is free. ”
