ASIA/TURKEY - Armenian Parliament presents an interrogation on the expulsions of evangelical pastors

Ankara (Agenzia Fides) - The parliamentary of Armenian origin Selina Ozuzun Dogan, member of the Republican People's Party, addressed to Turkish minister of the interior Süleyman Soylu a Parliamentary interrogation on authentic reasons that, after the failed coup of July 15, led to the removal of some pastors of the evangelical community resident for a long time in Turkey: Ryan Keating, before residing in Ankara, and Patrick Jansen, who resided in Gaziantep, both expelled because of "activities contrary to national security". For the same reason the expulsion order against Andrew Craig Brunson, head of the Protestant Church of Smyrna (Izmir Diriliş Kilisesi, Church of the Resurrection), and his wife Lyn Norine was issued. The couple, since mid-October, have been detained at the deportation center of Harmandali.
According to the Parliamentary Assembly of the CHP, the Turkish government expels evangelical pastors of US nationality as a measure of retaliation for the non-extradition of Fethullah Gülen, the Islamic preacher who expatriated in the USA in 1999 and accused Turkey of being the instigator of the failed coup of 15 July. In the interrogation addressed to the Turkish interior minister, Selina Ozuzun Dogan (one of the first members of the Armenian Parliament in recent decades) asked to clarify what would be the "activities in contrast with national security" which motivate the expulsions of evangelical pastors. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 30/11/2016)

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