A Turkish court’s conviction of a local employee of a US consulate undermines confidence between the United States and Turkey. That said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday.
The US has seen “no credible evidence” in support of the court’s decision, according to Pompeo.
He convicted Metin Topuz for helping a terrorist organization and sentenced him to eight years and nine months in prison.
“This conviction undermines confidence in Turkish institutions and the critical confidence underlying Turkish-American relations,” said the minister.
Since a failed coup in 2016, President Erdogan’s government has been vigorously prosecuting a move by an old political rival, American-based Fethullah Gülen.
Erdogan accuses him of being behind the failed coup and has labelled the movement as terrorist.
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