Erdogan wants Gulen extradited to release US pastor

Istanbul (dpa) 22 April -Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday called on the United States to extradite Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara blames for the 2016 failed coup, if Washington wants the release of a US Christian pastor jailed in Turkey.   

“If you want [Andrew] Brunson from us, look at the steps that have been taken,” Erdogan said in televised remarks on private broadcaster NTV, adding he expects “reciprocity” from the US regarding their demand to free pastor Andrew Brunson.   

Brunson was arrested in Turkey in 2016 and is on trial over alleged links to terrorist groups with prosecutors seeking a sentence of up to 35 years in jail.   

“Can you not extradite this man [Gulen] based on the prisoner swap” deal?” Erdogan said. “If there is no such reciprocity, I am sorry,” he said, referring to the US demand as “unlawful.”