Iran

The U.S. Department of State has requested that Iran free pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who currently awaits his verdict on charges of apostasy and evangelizing Muslims.

Jordan Sekulow, executive director for the American Center for Law and Justice, met with U.S. Department of State officials on Wednesday to discuss Iran’s violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in Nadarkhani’s court case.

On Wednesday, Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Suzan Johnson Cook presented her comments at the U.S. Institute for Peace. more >>

While awaiting his death sentence appeal verdict in an Iranian prison, Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has had Islamic literature pushed on him; a tactic which many argue could be used to entrap him.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) identifies two motives for providing Nadarkhani with literature; either to instigate a Christian response, which would result in an additional charge of blasphemy in court, or to convince him to recant his Christian faith.

“It is no surprise that security agents, who answer directly to the Supreme Leader, would try to either do away with the case or provide an alternative justification for continued punishment,” contends the ACLJ. more >>

Iranian officials are attempting to convert Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani while he awaits his verdict under the jurisdiction of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Christian Solidarity Worldwide has reported.

CSW has been informed that during Nadarkhani’s stay in prison, guards and officials have provided him with religious Islamic literature “allegedly as part of an official campaign to convert Christian prisoners.”

“CSW is deeply concerned at news of a further increase in the harassment of Iranian Christians,” CSW Special Ambassador Stuart Windsor said in a statement. more >>

The international public continues to await the opinion of supreme leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei concerning the execution case of Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.

As of Oct. 13, it was predicted that Khamenei would make his decision within 20 days.

Nadarkhani’s defense lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, argued that although Khamenei is not obligated to reveal his decision to the public, lawyers, or the defendant’s family, any future action by the courts would imply that Khamenei has made his decision. more >>

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s defense lawyer has predicted that the supreme leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei will reveal his “opinion” concerning the pastor’s case within the next 20 days.

The defense lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah argues that although Khamenei is not obligated to reveal his decision to the public, lawyers, or the defendant’s family, any future action by the courts will imply that Khamenei has made his decision.

“The ayatollah can make any decision he wants. He controls the judiciary, who’s executed, who’s not executed, the military. The list goes on,” Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, told The Christian Post. more >>

Placing Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s case into the hands of high Supreme Leader Ali Khameini could make or break Nadarkhani’s chances of an acquittal.

“Whatever decision is made there will be a hefty amount of people who are not happy with it,” Todd Nettleton, director of media development for Voice of the Martyrs USA, told The Christian Post.

Nadarkhani, a Christian pastor in Iran, was arrested in October 2009 for protesting. His charge was later changed to apostasy, or preaching Christianity to Muslims. He was found guilty in the lower, local court of the Gilan Province. After appealing his case to the Supreme Court, officials gave Nadarkhani an ultimatum: "renounce your faith or die." more >>