ISTANBUL, July 25 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish court on Wednesday decided to move U.S. pastor Andrew Brunson from prison to house arrest under judicial control due to his health problems, local media reported.
The Hurriyet daily said the Second High Penal Court in Turkey's western province of Izmir banned Brunson from leaving Turkey.
The decision came one week after the same court ruled to keep Brunson in prison, deciding to hold the next hearing for the testimonies of witnesses on Oct. 12.
Turkish authorities accuse the pastor of espionage and having links to a network led by the U.S.-based outlawed cleric Fethullah Gulen and the Kurdistan Workers' Party.
The 50-year-old pastor, who was detained two years ago, faces up to 35 years in prison if found guilty.
Ankara blames Gulen and his network of being behind the failed coup in 2016 against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his government.
The United States has repeatedly urged Ankara to release Brunson who has lived in Turkey for over 20 years, media reports said.
