Faith and freedom: Conviction for leaving Islam sparks surge of alarm worldwide

"Iran's efforts to fabricate fresh charges against Pastor Nadarkhani this late in the day reflect badly on the ruling regime and will only serve to bring the Iranian legal system into disrepute and occasion further questions regarding the independence of the judiciary."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Worlod News Daily
By Bob Unruh | October 06, 2011

Pastor facing death slammed with accusation about this!

Iranian authorities suddenly have backed off claims they've been making for months – that a pastor was convicted of leaving Islam and was subject to the death penalty – but advocates remain concerned about his ultimate safety.

WND reported several days ago on a campaign that was being assembled to encourage the White House to pressure Iran not to execute Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.

To date, tens of thousands of people have participated in expressions of public concern over Nadarkhani's future.

Then today, according to a report in International Business Times, Iranian authorities suddenly decided to say Nadarkhani was in prison on other counts and, "There has been no execution order. No conviction at all has been issued yet."


The backtracking was attributed by the IBT to Gilan Province Judiciary Chief Mohammad-Javad Hesehmati.

Nadarkhani was arrested and convicted of apostasy in 2009 – rejecting Islam – an offense eligible for the death penalty in Iran, according to records.

In a letter sent to Barack Obama, Iranian Ambassador to the U.N. Mohammad Khazzaee, the U.N. Commissioner on Human Rights and members of Congress, Rutherford Institute founder and President John Whitehead says it's time for the leader of the free world to take a stand to save Nadarkhani's life.

"The voice of the free world is the president of the United States. The president of the United States in these situations should make a statement," he said.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which has been staging support for the pastor, "Unconfirmed reports indicate that the fate of the pastor may now lie in the hands of the local religious leader, Ayatollah Ghorbani."

"Following a demonstration in support of Pastor Nadarkhani organized by CSW, the Iranian embassy in London released a statement claiming that fears of a death sentence were 'unsubstantiated.' However, in a worrying development, disinformation has been spreading in recent days concerning the charges against the pastor. These include claims that he was found guilty of rape, and accusations that he is a Zionist 'working against the Islamic Order.' Sources close to the case have expressed fears that efforts may be under way to formulate spurious charges in order to justify the sentence," the CSW report said.

"CSW is in possession of original court documents which clearly state that the charge against him is apostasy, and that the death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court," said CSW Chief Executive Officer Mervyn Thomas.

"Iran's efforts to fabricate fresh charges against Pastor Nadarkhani this late in the day reflect badly on the ruling regime and will only serve to bring the Iranian legal system into disrepute and occasion further questions regarding the independence of the judiciary," he said.

The organization reported that its sources in Iran "have firmly denied reports that a verbal annulment of the charges and death sentence had been given."

"We are urging everyone not to draw conclusions until a formal written verdict is received from the court within the next week. In the meantime we need to keep up pressure on the Iranian regime to prevent his execution," the group said.

The ordeal started after Nadarkhani protested the government's decision to teach Islam to Christian children. Nadarkhani's own children would have been subject to the Islamic instruction.

Reports by the Assyrian International News Agency say that Nadarkhani has never been a Muslim in his adult life and has refused to renounce his Christian faith.

According to the AINA report, the court has demanded a fourth time that the pastor reject his Christian faith.

"When asked to repent, Nadarkhani stated: "Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?"

"To the religion of your ancestors, Islam," the judge replied, according to the American Center for Law & Justice.

"I cannot," Nadarkhani said.

Whitehead said Nadarkhani should be entitled to the same legal protections Iranian law supposedly gives to all its citizens.

"He didn't kill anybody; he just wants his kids to have some religious autonomy. The Iranian Constitution gives people religious freedom," Whitehead said.

He added that all Americans and Westerners should be "appalled."

"Our job is to speak up. As a Christian I'm appalled, but as an American I'm appalled that our government would be silent when this type of thing is going on," Whitehead said.

"I'm appalled that more churches aren't speaking up and Christian organizations. Why are we so quiet? Why isn't Amnesty International screaming about this? Why does it take the Rutherford Institute?"


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