Andrew Brunson

In the first updates from Andrew Brunson’s trial on May 7, EPC Teaching Elder Andrew Brunson has strongly denied accusations made by a secret witness. The witness, who testified by video link with disguised face and voice, is described as a former parishioner of the Izmir Resurrection Church. Brunson planted and has served as Pastor of the Izmir congregation since 2010.

The witness reportedly claimed that the church was an intermediary for the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK). Turkey considers the PKK a terrorist organization.

LatestUpdates.com first reported that Brunson said, “I reject all the allegations about the PKK terror organization. I have never supported them.”

A report from the trial published later on Monday morning by the Turkish “Hurriyet Daily News” quoted Brunson as “insisting that he ‘never permitted politics in church.’”

The Reuters news service quoted Brunson as declaring, “I was never ashamed to be a server of Jesus but these claims are shameful and disgusting.”

The Washington Post quoted Brunson as responding, “There is not one photograph or tape recording praising the PKK at the (Izmir) Resurrection Church. Our church had several Turkish followers.”

Click here for the full LatestUpdates.com report.

Click here for the Hurriyet Daily News article.

Click here for the Reuters report.

Click here for the Washington Post story.