US pastor Andrew Brunson returned to his house in Izmir on Friday, after a Turkish court ordered his immediate release from house arrest for terrorism charges.
A heavy police presence was seen around Brunson’s neighbourhood to ensure the safe return of the convicted US pastor who was released to the custody of US diplomats.
Brunson was arrested two years ago over alleged links to the outlawed Kurdish PKK party and to the Fetullah Gulen movement, which Turkey claims was behind the 2016 attempted coup.
The US national was handed a prison sentence on Friday, but was freed based on time already served under house arrest.