Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Global Human Rights and Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, released the following statement on the release of Pastor Andrew Brunson from house arrest in Turkey:

     “I am overjoyed that Pastor Andrew Brunson is finally free from his cruel and unjust imprisonment and house arrest, and is coming home safely to the U.S.  For almost two years he was the victim of efforts by President Erdogan and the Turkish state to crack down on religious freedom as he languished in prison—and was then transferred to house arrest in July—on absurd charges of espionage and supporting a terrorist group, while his family suffered enormously. I applaud all those involved in working successfully for his release. The United States must now hold the perpetrators of his unjust imprisonment accountable by maintaining and strengthening targeted sanctions on complicit Turkish officials.”