Turkish Bar Association slams US sanction move

The Turkish Bar Association on Thursday criticized the U.S. move to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers for not releasing an American pastor, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.

Metin Feyzioglu, the association's head, said in a statement: "Threatening messages and sanctions issued against our country for the release of their citizen detained in Turkey by relevant authorities of the United States are unacceptable."

He asserted that such a move by the U.S. not only undermines international law but also is an attempt to interfere with the justice system of a sovereign state.

Feyzioglu described the U.S. move as "contrary to rule of law", adding: "Some U.S. officials have rather taken a hammer in their hands and treat every problem they face in foreign policy as nails.

"Turkish judiciary will give a verdict in accordance with universal rules for fair trial. No one should doubt this."

Recalling that Turkey and the U.S. are allies, Feyzioglu stressed that such alliance is not just important for the two nations but also for the entire world.

"Basis of an alliance is having mutual respect for international law and the sovereign rights of states," he said.

On Wednesday night, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. was imposing sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson.

Sanders said the U.S. would block "any property, or interest in property of the two ministers".

Brunson has been charged in Turkey with spying for the PKK -- a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey -- and U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.

Ankara also accuses FETÖ of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.