Yildirim: US sanctions against Turkish minister unlawful

Turkey's Parliament Speaker Binali Yildirim has termed the U.S. decision to impose sanctions on two Turkish ministers as "unlawful and extremely arbitrary".

"The sanctions decision taken by the U.S. Secretary of Treasury has targeted our Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and our Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, which is unlawful and extremely arbitrary," Yildirim said in a statement,

"I strongly condemn this decision that is an indicator of a disrespectful manner on judicially process in Turkey," Anadolu Agency cited him as saying.

Yildirim called on the U.S. administration to reverse its decision.

On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. was imposing sanctions on Soylu, and Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.