Youcef Nadarkhani Update: Iranian Pastor Safe From Execution, For Now
October 5, 2011 4:24 PM EDT
It appears that Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani will avoid the hangman in Iran for the time being.
Nadarkhani, once the leader of a 400-person congregation in Rasht, was previously convicted of apostasy -- the crime of abandoning Islam and converting to Christianity -- but Iran now claims that the death penalty reports that circulated around the world last week were unsubstantiated.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/225738/ ... rkhani.htm
Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Facing Execution..
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Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Facing Execution..
by bbeba103 » Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:23 pm
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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bbeba103 - Posts: 5004
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by bbeba103 » Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:24 pm
Pastor’s possible execution reveals nuances of Islamic law
(CNN) – The possible hanging of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani for converting from Islam to Christianity has exposed a division among Islamic jurists on whether Iran would be violating Islamic law by carrying out the execution.
According to some of these scholars, the Quran not only outlaws the death penalty for the charge of apostasy, but under Sharia law, conversion from Islam is not a punishable offense at all.
“Instead, it says on a number of occasions that God prefers and even demands that people believe in Him, but that He will handle rejection of such belief by punishing them in the afterworld,” wrote Intisar Rabb, an assistant professor of law at Boston College and a faculty affiliate in research at Harvard Law School, in an e-mail to CNN.
But Rabb also acknowledges that there is a more nuanced view to Islamic law, too.
Clark Lombardi, an associate professor of law at the University of Washington, said there is more room for interpretation because the Quran is not the only source of Islamic law.
“Most Muslims look past the Quran and say the Quran needs to be looked at in the practice of the Prophet. So they look to see what rules the prophet laid down,” Lombardi said.
And, according to Lombardi, if you look at literature about the life of Mohammed, “then apostasy is clearly something very bad. And there are examples of apostates being punished.”
What emerges from this is a complicated division between whether apostasy is punishable in the first place and, if it is punishable, for what reason.
“Most Muslims, most but not all, believe that apostasy is a deep and terrible sin,” Lombardi said. “The question of whether the state should punish deep and terrible sins is in fact something that Muslims do disagree about.”
Nadarkhani, the leader of a network of Christian house churches in Iran, was first convicted of apostasy in November 2010, a charge he subsequently appealed. Though news reports from Iran have indicated the pastor is now charged with “security related crimes” and is no longer charged with apostasy, briefs obtained by CNN from the 2010 Supreme Court case show the pastor’s original charge was solely apostasy.
“He (Nadarkhani) has stated that he is a Christian and no longer Muslim,” states the Supreme Court brief. “During many sessions in court with the presence of his attorney and a judge, he has been sentenced to execution by hanging according to article 8 of Tahrir —olvasileh.”
Harris Zafar, national spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, does not mince words on the subject, stating in a Huffington Post opinion piece that “Islam prescribes absolutely no punishment for apostasy.”
“Chapter two of the Holy Quran emphatically denies this possibility, stating ‘there shall be no compulsion in religion,” writes Zafar. “This is an unambiguous declaration protecting freedom of conscience and choice.”
Mohammad Fadel, associate professor of law at University of Toronto, said that there is a difference, though, between just being a nonbeliever and being someone who is actively preaching a religion other than Islam. Fadel said Nadarkhani’s preaching “may be viewed as a kind of treasonous comment.”
“Even for people who reject Islam religiously, many still identify them with the religion culturally, even if they aren’t religious,” Fadel said.
According to Rabb, the idea for punishing apostasy stems from medieval times, when your religious affiliation was the basis for your citizenship. Renouncing your faith was also announcing your intent to no longer regard yourself a citizen of that community — in effect, treason.
But as time went on, your religious affiliation is no longer closely tied to your citizenship. “Now, we have an era of territory-based citizenship,” Rabb wrote.
“The problem in the modern period is that contemporary states apply medieval rules in unreflective ways that do not often match the classical Islamic legal tradition to which they are trying to adhere,” wrote Rabb.
But Lombardi points out that Iran is formally known as the Islamic Republic of Iran and “being Muslim is part of full citizenship in Iran.” Though he couldn’t speak for the Iranian justice system, he said there are two grounds for which Iran could give to put Nadarkhani to death for apostasy.
“One of them would be to say traditionally in Shiite Islam, people have interpreted the scripture for apostates to be put to death,” Lombardi said. “The other one is that people who apostatize have committed a sin and they are real threat to the Muslim community and as a threat, they are punishable as someone who is a traitor to the country.”
The website islawmix, a project through the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, was created to be an authoritarian voice on the nuances in Islamic law. Made up of 13 scholars and founded by Rabb, along with Umbreen Bhatti and Kaizar Campwala, the website looks to connect “news readers, media producers, and legal scholars with credible, authoritative information about trends in Islamic law.”
Bhatti, a practicing civil rights lawyer, said the nuances of Islamic law are not unique; the same sort of nuanced opinions are regularly found in American law.
“The reality is the 13 scholars on our sites could give you a variety of different responses,” Bhatti said. Islamic law has a “rich legal tradition and it is important for us to not convey something definitive or to suggest there is one answer.”
The overriding opinion of each scholar was simple —the complication of Islamic law makes it somewhat difficult to predict what Iran will do.
Lombardi recalled a story in Afghanistan, where a man’s neighbors hauled him to court for leaving Islam.
“The judge takes a look and says this person is an apostate and therefore the crime should be putting them to death,” Lombardi said. “But then the judge said, Islam is such great religion, you could have to be crazy to have to convert from Islam. And therefore, I think this person should get off on ground of insanity.”
Moral of the story, according to Lombardi: “There are all sorts of grounds for pardoning someone.”
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/0 ... lamic-law/
(CNN) – The possible hanging of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani for converting from Islam to Christianity has exposed a division among Islamic jurists on whether Iran would be violating Islamic law by carrying out the execution.
According to some of these scholars, the Quran not only outlaws the death penalty for the charge of apostasy, but under Sharia law, conversion from Islam is not a punishable offense at all.
“Instead, it says on a number of occasions that God prefers and even demands that people believe in Him, but that He will handle rejection of such belief by punishing them in the afterworld,” wrote Intisar Rabb, an assistant professor of law at Boston College and a faculty affiliate in research at Harvard Law School, in an e-mail to CNN.
But Rabb also acknowledges that there is a more nuanced view to Islamic law, too.
Clark Lombardi, an associate professor of law at the University of Washington, said there is more room for interpretation because the Quran is not the only source of Islamic law.
“Most Muslims look past the Quran and say the Quran needs to be looked at in the practice of the Prophet. So they look to see what rules the prophet laid down,” Lombardi said.
And, according to Lombardi, if you look at literature about the life of Mohammed, “then apostasy is clearly something very bad. And there are examples of apostates being punished.”
What emerges from this is a complicated division between whether apostasy is punishable in the first place and, if it is punishable, for what reason.
“Most Muslims, most but not all, believe that apostasy is a deep and terrible sin,” Lombardi said. “The question of whether the state should punish deep and terrible sins is in fact something that Muslims do disagree about.”
Nadarkhani, the leader of a network of Christian house churches in Iran, was first convicted of apostasy in November 2010, a charge he subsequently appealed. Though news reports from Iran have indicated the pastor is now charged with “security related crimes” and is no longer charged with apostasy, briefs obtained by CNN from the 2010 Supreme Court case show the pastor’s original charge was solely apostasy.
“He (Nadarkhani) has stated that he is a Christian and no longer Muslim,” states the Supreme Court brief. “During many sessions in court with the presence of his attorney and a judge, he has been sentenced to execution by hanging according to article 8 of Tahrir —olvasileh.”
Harris Zafar, national spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, does not mince words on the subject, stating in a Huffington Post opinion piece that “Islam prescribes absolutely no punishment for apostasy.”
“Chapter two of the Holy Quran emphatically denies this possibility, stating ‘there shall be no compulsion in religion,” writes Zafar. “This is an unambiguous declaration protecting freedom of conscience and choice.”
Mohammad Fadel, associate professor of law at University of Toronto, said that there is a difference, though, between just being a nonbeliever and being someone who is actively preaching a religion other than Islam. Fadel said Nadarkhani’s preaching “may be viewed as a kind of treasonous comment.”
“Even for people who reject Islam religiously, many still identify them with the religion culturally, even if they aren’t religious,” Fadel said.
According to Rabb, the idea for punishing apostasy stems from medieval times, when your religious affiliation was the basis for your citizenship. Renouncing your faith was also announcing your intent to no longer regard yourself a citizen of that community — in effect, treason.
But as time went on, your religious affiliation is no longer closely tied to your citizenship. “Now, we have an era of territory-based citizenship,” Rabb wrote.
“The problem in the modern period is that contemporary states apply medieval rules in unreflective ways that do not often match the classical Islamic legal tradition to which they are trying to adhere,” wrote Rabb.
But Lombardi points out that Iran is formally known as the Islamic Republic of Iran and “being Muslim is part of full citizenship in Iran.” Though he couldn’t speak for the Iranian justice system, he said there are two grounds for which Iran could give to put Nadarkhani to death for apostasy.
“One of them would be to say traditionally in Shiite Islam, people have interpreted the scripture for apostates to be put to death,” Lombardi said. “The other one is that people who apostatize have committed a sin and they are real threat to the Muslim community and as a threat, they are punishable as someone who is a traitor to the country.”
The website islawmix, a project through the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, was created to be an authoritarian voice on the nuances in Islamic law. Made up of 13 scholars and founded by Rabb, along with Umbreen Bhatti and Kaizar Campwala, the website looks to connect “news readers, media producers, and legal scholars with credible, authoritative information about trends in Islamic law.”
Bhatti, a practicing civil rights lawyer, said the nuances of Islamic law are not unique; the same sort of nuanced opinions are regularly found in American law.
“The reality is the 13 scholars on our sites could give you a variety of different responses,” Bhatti said. Islamic law has a “rich legal tradition and it is important for us to not convey something definitive or to suggest there is one answer.”
The overriding opinion of each scholar was simple —the complication of Islamic law makes it somewhat difficult to predict what Iran will do.
Lombardi recalled a story in Afghanistan, where a man’s neighbors hauled him to court for leaving Islam.
“The judge takes a look and says this person is an apostate and therefore the crime should be putting them to death,” Lombardi said. “But then the judge said, Islam is such great religion, you could have to be crazy to have to convert from Islam. And therefore, I think this person should get off on ground of insanity.”
Moral of the story, according to Lombardi: “There are all sorts of grounds for pardoning someone.”
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/0 ... lamic-law/
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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bbeba103 - Posts: 5004
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by bbeba103 » Fri Oct 07, 2011 10:37 pm
IMPORTANT UPDATE! Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still planned to be executed for Apostacy; leaving the Islamic Faith.
The Iranian Government has changed their story and now says he is condemned for violent crimes and extortion, as a way of taking off international pressure, but these claims have been proven untrue.
The truth is this; Pastor Youcef was arrested on October 12, 2009 for questioning the local school district's refusal to teach anything but Islam. His wife, Fatemah, was arrested shortly after, but released. His sons Daniel (age 9) and Yoel (age 7) have been unharmed.
Continue to pray and write the following offices of the Islamic Republic of Iran...
Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic at: istiftaa@wilayah.org
or
Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Foreign Afairs at: matbuat@mfa.gov
When writing, please keep to the format recommended by Amnesty International, which says; be courteous, compliment the people of Iran, compliment recent attempts to increase freedom of Religion, but state strongly that the imprisonment and execution of Pastor Youcef goes against those recent reforms.
And PRAY, as Paul says... "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were suffering with them in prison, and those mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 271&type=3
The Iranian Government has changed their story and now says he is condemned for violent crimes and extortion, as a way of taking off international pressure, but these claims have been proven untrue.
The truth is this; Pastor Youcef was arrested on October 12, 2009 for questioning the local school district's refusal to teach anything but Islam. His wife, Fatemah, was arrested shortly after, but released. His sons Daniel (age 9) and Yoel (age 7) have been unharmed.
Continue to pray and write the following offices of the Islamic Republic of Iran...
Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic at: istiftaa@wilayah.org
or
Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Foreign Afairs at: matbuat@mfa.gov
When writing, please keep to the format recommended by Amnesty International, which says; be courteous, compliment the people of Iran, compliment recent attempts to increase freedom of Religion, but state strongly that the imprisonment and execution of Pastor Youcef goes against those recent reforms.
And PRAY, as Paul says... "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were suffering with them in prison, and those mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 271&type=3
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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bbeba103 - Posts: 5004
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by Need2Know » Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:36 pm
There is a growing movement and thousands upon thousands have emailed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to garner support to place pressure on an international level on the Iranian government to stop this. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani will never renounce Jesus Christ and many are praying that this pressure will allow this brave man to live. If the nation of Iran carries this out, they will only continue to show the world their brutality and total disregard for human life. Pastor Narakhani is not afraid of death, of that I am totally convinced but there are many who love him and depend on him.
1 John 3:1a, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
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by resigned » Sat Oct 08, 2011 9:26 pm
I would like to see the death penalty abolished in all countries, starting with our own United States of America. When it happens here we also show the world our brutality and total disregard for human life. JMO
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by yankee-in-france » Sun Oct 09, 2011 4:24 am
I doubt that if the pastor is executed that it will be for the crime of apostacy. I would find it hypocritical for the American Sec'y of State to intercede. Perhaps if the death penalty was repealed nationally, Hillary's words might carry some weight, but otherwise would probably be ridiculed.
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by Need2Know » Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:35 am
yankee-in-france wrote:I doubt that if the pastor is executed that it will be for the crime of apostacy. I would find it hypocritical for the American Sec'y of State to intercede. Perhaps if the death penalty was repealed nationally, Hillary's words might carry some weight, but otherwise would probably be ridiculed.
What "crime" is he being executed for?
1 John 3:1a, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
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Need2Know - N2K
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- Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:27 am
by bbeba103 » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:14 pm
Case of Iranian Pastor Facing Death Penalty Reportedly in Hands of Supreme Leader
By Joshua Rhett Miller Published October 10, 2011 | FoxNews.com
The case of an Iranian pastor facing a possible death sentence has reportedly been referred to Iran's supreme leader, a move some say shows the Islamic republic is feeling pressure in the face of growing international support.
Attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah told AFP on Monday that an Iranian court has decided to seek the opinion of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- the Islamic republic's spiritual leader and highest authority -- in the case of Youcef Nadarkhani, a 32-year-old pastor who was arrested in October 2009 and later sentenced to death for converting to Christianity.
Dadkhah and religious rights organizations say Nadarkhani is facing possible execution for apostasy and for refusing to renounce his religion, contradicting reports by Iran state media that have indicated Nadarkhani was found guilty of rape, extortion and security-related crimes. Messages seeking comment from Dadkhah were not immediately returned early Monday.
Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, a Washington-based organization that is monitoring Nadarkhani's case, told FoxNews.com that the move was unusual and is part of the "secretive process" within the Iranian judicial system.
"Based on these reports, Pastor Youcef is alive and we have reached the highest level of Iranian government," Sekulow said on Monday. "I don't believe this would've ever reached the level of Khamenei without the media attention and outpouring of support we've seen."
Sekulow said the move to involve Khamenei in a case before a regional court is uncommon and indicates that "Iran is feeling the pressure" of the growing international community in support of Nadarkhani.
As of Friday, at least 39 members of Congress had signed a letter calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to put pressure on Iranian authorities to release Nadarkhani, who, according to reports last week from Iranian state-funded Press TV, is now considered a security threat and previously operated a brothel. Judiciary Chief Mohammad-Javad Heshmati of Iran's Gilan Province told the station on Wednesday that no verdict had been reached and that an execution order had not yet been issued.
Documents obtained by the American Center for Law and Justice, however, indicate that apostasy is the only charge against Nadarkhani.
"There was an indication that this would go to one of [Iran's] top leaders," Sekulow said of Nadarkhani's case. "It looks like everything we believed would happen has now happened. This is the time where the international pressure, the media attention, has to increase tenfold."
Sekulow also asked Clinton to call for Nadarkhani's "unconditional release" and said more than 125,000 people have signed a petition in support of the father of two. Calls seeking comment from the U.S. State Department were not immediately returned on Monday.
The White House condemned the conviction and possible death sentence for Nadarkhani late last month, saying the execution would further demonstrate Iranian authorities' "utter disregard" for religious freedom.
"Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people," the statement released by the White House on Sept. 29 read. "That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations. A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion."
Nadarkhani is the latest Christian cleric to be imprisoned in Iran for his religious beliefs. According to Elam Ministries, a United Kingdom-based organization that serves Christian churches in Iran, there was a significant increase in the number of Christians arrested solely for practicing their faith between June 2010 and January 2011. A total of 202 arrests occurred during that six-month period, including 33 people who remained in prison as of January, Elam reported.
Nadarkhani, a pastor in the 400-member Church of Iran, has been held in that country's Gilan Province since October 2009, after he protested to local education authorities that his son was forced to read from the Koran at school. His wife, Fatemeh Pasandideh, was also arrested in June 2010 in an apparent attempt to pressure him to renounce his faith. She was released in October 2010, according to Amnesty International.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/10 ... me-leader/
By Joshua Rhett Miller Published October 10, 2011 | FoxNews.com
The case of an Iranian pastor facing a possible death sentence has reportedly been referred to Iran's supreme leader, a move some say shows the Islamic republic is feeling pressure in the face of growing international support.
Attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah told AFP on Monday that an Iranian court has decided to seek the opinion of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- the Islamic republic's spiritual leader and highest authority -- in the case of Youcef Nadarkhani, a 32-year-old pastor who was arrested in October 2009 and later sentenced to death for converting to Christianity.
Dadkhah and religious rights organizations say Nadarkhani is facing possible execution for apostasy and for refusing to renounce his religion, contradicting reports by Iran state media that have indicated Nadarkhani was found guilty of rape, extortion and security-related crimes. Messages seeking comment from Dadkhah were not immediately returned early Monday.
Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, a Washington-based organization that is monitoring Nadarkhani's case, told FoxNews.com that the move was unusual and is part of the "secretive process" within the Iranian judicial system.
"Based on these reports, Pastor Youcef is alive and we have reached the highest level of Iranian government," Sekulow said on Monday. "I don't believe this would've ever reached the level of Khamenei without the media attention and outpouring of support we've seen."
Sekulow said the move to involve Khamenei in a case before a regional court is uncommon and indicates that "Iran is feeling the pressure" of the growing international community in support of Nadarkhani.
As of Friday, at least 39 members of Congress had signed a letter calling on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to put pressure on Iranian authorities to release Nadarkhani, who, according to reports last week from Iranian state-funded Press TV, is now considered a security threat and previously operated a brothel. Judiciary Chief Mohammad-Javad Heshmati of Iran's Gilan Province told the station on Wednesday that no verdict had been reached and that an execution order had not yet been issued.
Documents obtained by the American Center for Law and Justice, however, indicate that apostasy is the only charge against Nadarkhani.
"There was an indication that this would go to one of [Iran's] top leaders," Sekulow said of Nadarkhani's case. "It looks like everything we believed would happen has now happened. This is the time where the international pressure, the media attention, has to increase tenfold."
Sekulow also asked Clinton to call for Nadarkhani's "unconditional release" and said more than 125,000 people have signed a petition in support of the father of two. Calls seeking comment from the U.S. State Department were not immediately returned on Monday.
The White House condemned the conviction and possible death sentence for Nadarkhani late last month, saying the execution would further demonstrate Iranian authorities' "utter disregard" for religious freedom.
"Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people," the statement released by the White House on Sept. 29 read. "That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations. A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion."
Nadarkhani is the latest Christian cleric to be imprisoned in Iran for his religious beliefs. According to Elam Ministries, a United Kingdom-based organization that serves Christian churches in Iran, there was a significant increase in the number of Christians arrested solely for practicing their faith between June 2010 and January 2011. A total of 202 arrests occurred during that six-month period, including 33 people who remained in prison as of January, Elam reported.
Nadarkhani, a pastor in the 400-member Church of Iran, has been held in that country's Gilan Province since October 2009, after he protested to local education authorities that his son was forced to read from the Koran at school. His wife, Fatemeh Pasandideh, was also arrested in June 2010 in an apparent attempt to pressure him to renounce his faith. She was released in October 2010, according to Amnesty International.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/10 ... me-leader/
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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bbeba103 - Posts: 5004
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by bbeba103 » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:20 pm
Posted at 12:45 PM ET, 10/10/2011
Iran’s supreme leader to rule on Christian pastor’s case By Jordan Sekulow Breaking news reports out of Iran provide that the state court of Gilan, which recently demanded that Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani recant his faith or face execution, has delayed its written decision. As we predicted last week, the judges have sent the case to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. According to Youcef’s lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, “the court has decided to ask the opinion of Mr. (Ali) Khamenei.” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is an Islamic jurist and the final arbiter of questions of Sharia law. In Iran, he is seen as a guardian protecting Iran.
The step to involve the most powerful leader in Iran demonstrates that Iran is feeling the pressure. Involving the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in a case before a regional court is unusual. We can be certain if the lies spread by Iran were true – that Youcef was instead convicted of rape, extortion, and Zionism – the court would not seek the advice of the Supreme Ayatollah.
The readers of this blog have played a crucial role in raising international awareness of this unjust ruling. Now that Iran’s Supreme Leader will be considering the case, it is imperative that our top diplomat, Secretary of State Clinton, call for Pastor Youcef’s unconditional release. Continue to keep the pressure on Iran, share this story, call your Member of Congress, and join the over 125,000 who have signed our petition. Let’s do everything we can to see that Pastor Youcef is freed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rel ... _blog.html
Iran’s supreme leader to rule on Christian pastor’s case By Jordan Sekulow Breaking news reports out of Iran provide that the state court of Gilan, which recently demanded that Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani recant his faith or face execution, has delayed its written decision. As we predicted last week, the judges have sent the case to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. According to Youcef’s lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, “the court has decided to ask the opinion of Mr. (Ali) Khamenei.” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is an Islamic jurist and the final arbiter of questions of Sharia law. In Iran, he is seen as a guardian protecting Iran.
The step to involve the most powerful leader in Iran demonstrates that Iran is feeling the pressure. Involving the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in a case before a regional court is unusual. We can be certain if the lies spread by Iran were true – that Youcef was instead convicted of rape, extortion, and Zionism – the court would not seek the advice of the Supreme Ayatollah.
The readers of this blog have played a crucial role in raising international awareness of this unjust ruling. Now that Iran’s Supreme Leader will be considering the case, it is imperative that our top diplomat, Secretary of State Clinton, call for Pastor Youcef’s unconditional release. Continue to keep the pressure on Iran, share this story, call your Member of Congress, and join the over 125,000 who have signed our petition. Let’s do everything we can to see that Pastor Youcef is freed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rel ... _blog.html
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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bbeba103 - Posts: 5004
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by Need2Know » Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:43 am
yankee-in-france wrote:I doubt that if the pastor is executed that it will be for the crime of apostacy. I would find it hypocritical for the American Sec'y of State to intercede. Perhaps if the death penalty was repealed nationally, Hillary's words might carry some weight, but otherwise would probably be ridiculed.
From bbeba's article:
Dadkhah and religious rights organizations say Nadarkhani is facing possible execution for apostasy and for refusing to renounce his religion, contradicting reports by Iran state media that have indicated Nadarkhani was found guilty of rape, extortion and security-related crimes. Messages seeking comment from Dadkhah were not immediately returned early Monday.
"Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people," the statement released by the White House on Sept. 29 read. "That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations. A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion."
Nadarkhani is the latest Christian cleric to be imprisoned in Iran for his religious beliefs. According to Elam Ministries, a United Kingdom-based organization that serves Christian churches in Iran, there was a significant increase in the number of Christians arrested solely for practicing their faith between June 2010 and January 2011. A total of 202 arrests occurred during that six-month period, including 33 people who remained in prison as of January, Elam reported.
1 John 3:1a, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
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by yankee-in-france » Wed Oct 12, 2011 11:00 am
Need2Know wrote:
What "crime" is he being executed for?
.. of whatever trumped up charges he is convicted.
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by Need2Know » Wed Oct 12, 2011 12:51 pm
yankee-in-france wrote:
.. of whatever trumped up charges he is convicted.
I don't believe that is what you meant by your earlier post but I could be wrong
You seemed convinced he had actually committed some terrible crime, you stated you "doubted" it would "only" be his Christian faith and conversion from Islam.
1 John 3:1a, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
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by bbeba103 » Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:37 am
Update: Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani to hear court’s decision in December
Thursday, November 17, 2011
(Source: Present Truth Ministries, Compass Direct News)
With his faith intact and his love for Christ steadfast, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in Lakan Prison in Iran charged with apostasy and sentenced to death. The Iranian government has denied the sentencing is based on apostasy despite abundant evidence to the contrary (for more, click here).
The court in Gilan is awaiting a response to their two letters of referral that were written to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khameini. Youcef’s attorney has said the court will wait one month for a response. If they do not receive a response, they will issue a ruling sometime in mid-December.
According to a member of Pastor Youcef’s denomination who requested anonymity, Youcef’s health has deteriorated and he has undergone physical and psychological torture. “We know that he has been in extreme situations, and we consider that torture,” the source said. “When you have spent time in a solitary cell unable to talk to others for a long time, or you are told you will be killed, this is also torture.”
Please pray that Pastor Youcef will remain healthy and strong despite the burdens of imprisonment. Pray that the worldwide attention garnered by his persecution will increase pressure on Iranian officials to stop harassing and imprisoning Christians. Please pray that Youcef and his family will experience a peace that surpasses all understanding as they endure these trials (Philippians 4:7).
To post a prayer of support for Pastor Youcef and his family, visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall. For more on the trials believers face in Iran, go to the Iran Country Report.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/42465
Thursday, November 17, 2011
(Source: Present Truth Ministries, Compass Direct News)
With his faith intact and his love for Christ steadfast, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in Lakan Prison in Iran charged with apostasy and sentenced to death. The Iranian government has denied the sentencing is based on apostasy despite abundant evidence to the contrary (for more, click here).
The court in Gilan is awaiting a response to their two letters of referral that were written to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khameini. Youcef’s attorney has said the court will wait one month for a response. If they do not receive a response, they will issue a ruling sometime in mid-December.
According to a member of Pastor Youcef’s denomination who requested anonymity, Youcef’s health has deteriorated and he has undergone physical and psychological torture. “We know that he has been in extreme situations, and we consider that torture,” the source said. “When you have spent time in a solitary cell unable to talk to others for a long time, or you are told you will be killed, this is also torture.”
Please pray that Pastor Youcef will remain healthy and strong despite the burdens of imprisonment. Pray that the worldwide attention garnered by his persecution will increase pressure on Iranian officials to stop harassing and imprisoning Christians. Please pray that Youcef and his family will experience a peace that surpasses all understanding as they endure these trials (Philippians 4:7).
To post a prayer of support for Pastor Youcef and his family, visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall. For more on the trials believers face in Iran, go to the Iran Country Report.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/42465
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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by Need2Know » Thu Nov 24, 2011 1:19 pm
bbeba103 wrote:Update: Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani to hear court’s decision in December
Thursday, November 17, 2011
(Source: Present Truth Ministries, Compass Direct News)
With his faith intact and his love for Christ steadfast, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani remains in Lakan Prison in Iran charged with apostasy and sentenced to death. The Iranian government has denied the sentencing is based on apostasy despite abundant evidence to the contrary (for more, click here).
The court in Gilan is awaiting a response to their two letters of referral that were written to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khameini. Youcef’s attorney has said the court will wait one month for a response. If they do not receive a response, they will issue a ruling sometime in mid-December.
According to a member of Pastor Youcef’s denomination who requested anonymity, Youcef’s health has deteriorated and he has undergone physical and psychological torture. “We know that he has been in extreme situations, and we consider that torture,” the source said. “When you have spent time in a solitary cell unable to talk to others for a long time, or you are told you will be killed, this is also torture.”
Please pray that Pastor Youcef will remain healthy and strong despite the burdens of imprisonment. Pray that the worldwide attention garnered by his persecution will increase pressure on Iranian officials to stop harassing and imprisoning Christians. Please pray that Youcef and his family will experience a peace that surpasses all understanding as they endure these trials (Philippians 4:7).
To post a prayer of support for Pastor Youcef and his family, visit our Persecuted Church Prayer Wall. For more on the trials believers face in Iran, go to the Iran Country Report.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/42465
Thank you for the update and the prayer/support information.
1 John 3:1a, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
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by bbeba103 » Fri Nov 25, 2011 12:04 pm
Need2Know wrote:
Thank you for the update and the prayer/support information.
You're welcome Need2know, I hope pastor Youcef Nadarkhani gets a fair chance...
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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by bbeba103 » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:06 am
Posted on Dec 16, 2011
TEHRAN (BP) -- An Iranian pastor who potentially faces a death sentence for being a Christian will remain in prison at least four more months and perhaps up to a year, according to conflictingreports.
The American Center for Law and Justice reported Friday (Dec. 16) that an Iranian court had ordered any decision on pastor Yousef (also spelled Youcef) Nadarkhani to be delayed at least four months, meaning he will be in prison there during Christmas and well into the new year.
Meanwhile, a second organization that monitors religious freedom in the Middle East, known as Present Truth Ministries, reported that the delay would last a year.
Either way, the news was disappointing to Nadarkhani's supporters who had hoped he might be freed by now.
It is not known yet what role Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei playedinthe decision. Nadarkhani's supporters had been awaiting a decision by the ayatollah and had been expecting it to be handed down in mid-December. The court had requested an "opinion" from the ayatollah.
The goal of keeping him in prison, Present Truth Ministries said, isto "use whatever means necessary to cause him to recant and return to Islam."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement Dec. 9 calling for Nadarkhani and several other prisoners of conscience worldwide to be released "immediately and unconditionally."
Nadarkhani was sentenced to death a year ago after a court of appeals foundhim guilty of leaving Islam.
The case dates back to 2009 when Nadarkhani was arrested after complaining that his son was being taught Islam in school. He eventually was sentenced to death by the court of appeals. Earlier this year the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence but ordered a lower court to examine whether Nadarkhani was ever a Muslim -- a fact essential to determine whether he left Islam for Christianity. But that lower court in Rasht, Iran, found that although Nadarkhani was never a practicing Muslim he remainedguilty of apostasy because he had Muslim ancestry.
In late September of this year, he was given four chances to recant his faithincourt and refused each time. His case then was referred to the ayatollah. The American Center for Law and Justice reported one of his court exchanges.
"Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?" Nadarkhani asked.
"To the religion of your ancestors, Islam,"the judge reportedly replied.
"I cannot," the pastor responded.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36806
TEHRAN (BP) -- An Iranian pastor who potentially faces a death sentence for being a Christian will remain in prison at least four more months and perhaps up to a year, according to conflictingreports.
The American Center for Law and Justice reported Friday (Dec. 16) that an Iranian court had ordered any decision on pastor Yousef (also spelled Youcef) Nadarkhani to be delayed at least four months, meaning he will be in prison there during Christmas and well into the new year.
Meanwhile, a second organization that monitors religious freedom in the Middle East, known as Present Truth Ministries, reported that the delay would last a year.
Either way, the news was disappointing to Nadarkhani's supporters who had hoped he might be freed by now.
It is not known yet what role Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei playedinthe decision. Nadarkhani's supporters had been awaiting a decision by the ayatollah and had been expecting it to be handed down in mid-December. The court had requested an "opinion" from the ayatollah.
The goal of keeping him in prison, Present Truth Ministries said, isto "use whatever means necessary to cause him to recant and return to Islam."
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement Dec. 9 calling for Nadarkhani and several other prisoners of conscience worldwide to be released "immediately and unconditionally."
Nadarkhani was sentenced to death a year ago after a court of appeals foundhim guilty of leaving Islam.
The case dates back to 2009 when Nadarkhani was arrested after complaining that his son was being taught Islam in school. He eventually was sentenced to death by the court of appeals. Earlier this year the Iranian Supreme Court upheld the death sentence but ordered a lower court to examine whether Nadarkhani was ever a Muslim -- a fact essential to determine whether he left Islam for Christianity. But that lower court in Rasht, Iran, found that although Nadarkhani was never a practicing Muslim he remainedguilty of apostasy because he had Muslim ancestry.
In late September of this year, he was given four chances to recant his faithincourt and refused each time. His case then was referred to the ayatollah. The American Center for Law and Justice reported one of his court exchanges.
"Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?" Nadarkhani asked.
"To the religion of your ancestors, Islam,"the judge reportedly replied.
"I cannot," the pastor responded.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=36806
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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by Need2Know » Wed Dec 28, 2011 7:52 am
Thanks for the updates
1 John 3:1a, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
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Re: Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Facing Executi
by bbeba103 » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:53 pm
Youcef Nadarkhani, Iranian Pastor, May Face Execution For 'Apostasy From Islam' (REPORT)
Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor who in 2010 was found guilty of apostasy and sentenced to death for refusing to recant Christianity, may have received a final execution order, according to the American Center for Law and Justice and Fox News.
Neither Human Rights Watch nor Amnesty International could verify the information for The Huffington Post, but the White House on Thursday afternoon issued a statement condemning the reports and calling on Iran to release Pastor Nadarkhani.
"This action is yet another shocking breach of Iran’s international obligations, its own constitution, and stated religious values," the White House statement read. "The United States stands in solidarity with Pastor Nadarkhani, his family, and all those who seek to practice their religion without fear of persecution -- a fundamental and universal human right."
While unable to verify the reports, Faraz Sanei,the Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch, spoke with The Huffington Post in a telephone interview about the uncertain circumstances surrounding Nadarkhani.
"A death sentence that has been sent for implementation by the judiciary would suggest the person is at imminent risk of execution," Sanei said. "If it has been sent to the implementation department, that is very troubling."
Sanei added that if the implementation has indeed been sent, Nadarkhani is "one step closer" to being executed.
Islam is the official religion in Iran, and according to the CIA,98 percent of the country's population is Muslim.
According to Amnesty International, Pastor Naderkhani, 34, became a Christian when he was a teenager and has said he never practiced Islam despite being born to Muslim parents. He has been a pastor for at least 10 years, according to the Christian Post.
In September, the Iranian Supreme Court upheld Naderkhani's 2010 conviction of apostasy after he reportedly refused to recant his Christian faith.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb ... 97262.html
Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor who in 2010 was found guilty of apostasy and sentenced to death for refusing to recant Christianity, may have received a final execution order, according to the American Center for Law and Justice and Fox News.
Neither Human Rights Watch nor Amnesty International could verify the information for The Huffington Post, but the White House on Thursday afternoon issued a statement condemning the reports and calling on Iran to release Pastor Nadarkhani.
"This action is yet another shocking breach of Iran’s international obligations, its own constitution, and stated religious values," the White House statement read. "The United States stands in solidarity with Pastor Nadarkhani, his family, and all those who seek to practice their religion without fear of persecution -- a fundamental and universal human right."
While unable to verify the reports, Faraz Sanei,the Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch, spoke with The Huffington Post in a telephone interview about the uncertain circumstances surrounding Nadarkhani.
"A death sentence that has been sent for implementation by the judiciary would suggest the person is at imminent risk of execution," Sanei said. "If it has been sent to the implementation department, that is very troubling."
Sanei added that if the implementation has indeed been sent, Nadarkhani is "one step closer" to being executed.
Islam is the official religion in Iran, and according to the CIA,98 percent of the country's population is Muslim.
According to Amnesty International, Pastor Naderkhani, 34, became a Christian when he was a teenager and has said he never practiced Islam despite being born to Muslim parents. He has been a pastor for at least 10 years, according to the Christian Post.
In September, the Iranian Supreme Court upheld Naderkhani's 2010 conviction of apostasy after he reportedly refused to recant his Christian faith.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb ... 97262.html
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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Re: Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Facing Executi
by bbeba103 » Thu Feb 23, 2012 6:59 pm
Iran orders hanging of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
02/23/2012 22:08
Iran’s judiciary issued orders to hang the dissident Christian, arrested in 2009 for seeking to register a home-based church.
BERLIN – Despite the international outrage over the incarceration and slated death penalty for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, Iran’s judiciary has issued orders to hang the dissident Christian.
Jay Sekulow, the chief counsel for the Washington-based American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), said on Wednesday, “We are hearing reports from our contacts in Iran that the execution orders for Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani may have been issued.”
Nadarkhani, now 34, was arrested in 2009 for questioning the compulsory Islamic education of his children and for seeking to register a home-based church. He was sentenced to death in 2010.
The ACLJ has closely monitored the case and has previously translated Iranian legal documents.
Sekulow added, “It is unclear whether Pastor Youcef would have a right of appeal from the execution order. We know that the head of Iran’s Judiciary, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, must approve publicly held executions, but only a small percentage of executions are held in public – most executions in Iran are conducted in secret.”
There has been a dramatic increase of executions in the Islamic Republic over the last month, Sekulow said.
US President Barack Obama, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and the governments of Germany, Britain and France, have called on the Iranian government to release Nadarkhani.
Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-Pennsylvania) drafted a resolution in Congress demanding the immediate release of Nadarkhani and that the apostasy charge be immediately expunged from the record.
“Iran has become more isolated because of their drive for nuclear weapons, and the fundamentalist government has stepped up persecution of religious minorities to deflect criticism. The persecuted are their own citizens, whose only crime is practicing their faith,” Pitts told FoxNews.com.
Small demonstrations across Germany have demanded that Iran not execute Nadarkhani. In September, 400 protesters showed up in front of the Iranian Consulate in Hamburg. Since October, there has been a vigil every week in the northern port city to protest against the pastor’s imprisonment.
Groups in Frankfurt and Berlin have also demonstrated.
A large event is slated for Easter in Hamburg in an effort to influence the Iranian authorities. A petition for action has collected 23,000 signatures calling for Iran to release the Evangelical pastor.
ACLJ has launched a “Tweet for Youcef social media campaign.” Such activities are “growing exponentially as Pastor Youcef’s situation has become more dire,” the organization said.
http://www.jpost.com/International/Arti ... ?id=259168
02/23/2012 22:08
Iran’s judiciary issued orders to hang the dissident Christian, arrested in 2009 for seeking to register a home-based church.
BERLIN – Despite the international outrage over the incarceration and slated death penalty for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, Iran’s judiciary has issued orders to hang the dissident Christian.
Jay Sekulow, the chief counsel for the Washington-based American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), said on Wednesday, “We are hearing reports from our contacts in Iran that the execution orders for Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani may have been issued.”
Nadarkhani, now 34, was arrested in 2009 for questioning the compulsory Islamic education of his children and for seeking to register a home-based church. He was sentenced to death in 2010.
The ACLJ has closely monitored the case and has previously translated Iranian legal documents.
Sekulow added, “It is unclear whether Pastor Youcef would have a right of appeal from the execution order. We know that the head of Iran’s Judiciary, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, must approve publicly held executions, but only a small percentage of executions are held in public – most executions in Iran are conducted in secret.”
There has been a dramatic increase of executions in the Islamic Republic over the last month, Sekulow said.
US President Barack Obama, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and the governments of Germany, Britain and France, have called on the Iranian government to release Nadarkhani.
Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-Pennsylvania) drafted a resolution in Congress demanding the immediate release of Nadarkhani and that the apostasy charge be immediately expunged from the record.
“Iran has become more isolated because of their drive for nuclear weapons, and the fundamentalist government has stepped up persecution of religious minorities to deflect criticism. The persecuted are their own citizens, whose only crime is practicing their faith,” Pitts told FoxNews.com.
Small demonstrations across Germany have demanded that Iran not execute Nadarkhani. In September, 400 protesters showed up in front of the Iranian Consulate in Hamburg. Since October, there has been a vigil every week in the northern port city to protest against the pastor’s imprisonment.
Groups in Frankfurt and Berlin have also demonstrated.
A large event is slated for Easter in Hamburg in an effort to influence the Iranian authorities. A petition for action has collected 23,000 signatures calling for Iran to release the Evangelical pastor.
ACLJ has launched a “Tweet for Youcef social media campaign.” Such activities are “growing exponentially as Pastor Youcef’s situation has become more dire,” the organization said.
http://www.jpost.com/International/Arti ... ?id=259168
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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Re: Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Facing Executi
by Need2Know » Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:59 pm
Iran's Christian pastor alive, execution looming
By Lisa Daftari
Published February 27, 2012
| FoxNews.com
The Christian pastor sentenced to death in Iran last week for leaving Islam and converting to Christianity was confirmed alive as of early Sunday, sources close to his attorneys told Fox News.
Iran’s government backtracked over the weekend, stating that no execution order had been announced for Youcef Nadarkhani, and that he was being held not for apostasy, but for rape and “other crimes,” according to the Islamic Republic’s state-controlled Press TV.
Nadarkhani’s attorneys believe the government toned down its rhetoric in response to an international outcry. The execution order, however, remained in effect, they said.
Supporters fear Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested more than two years ago on charges of apostasy, fear he may be executed at any time, as death sentences in Iran can be carried out immediately or dragged out for years.
Others fear Nadarkhani will be used in broader political negotiations as Iran endures crippling sanctions and international pressure in response to its nuclear agenda and rogue discourse. The number of executions in Iran has increased significantly in the last month.
“If a human being becomes a bargaining chip for the ayatollah, that’s not a situation that will lead to anything positive,” said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a human rights advocacy group that has led international campaigns to free Nadarkhani.
“When it’s a high-profile case, they test the international community’s reaction to these stories and how they change as geopolitical priorities shift.”
Iran’s judiciary, fearing its ultimate decision will have far-reaching political implications, has been caught in a bind in determining Nadarkhani’s fate.
Should the court release the pastor, it will appear disrespectful of the tenets of Shariah, or Islamic law, which call for an apostate to be put to death. If it executes him, it will face increasing criticism from the international community that continues to petition for the Nadarkhani’s release.
Dozens of human rights groups along with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 89 members of Congress, and leaders from the European Union, France, Great Britain, Mexico and Germany have condemned Iran for arresting Nadarkhani and have called for his quick release.
Last week, the State Department and White House put out statements condemning Tuesday’s execution verdict.
Congress has scheduled a vote as early as Wednesday on House Resolution 556, which condemns the Iranian government and calls for the pastor’s quick release.
Nadarkhani converted to Christianity at 19 and came under the Islamic regime’s radar in 2006 when he applied for his church to be registered with the state. He was arrested and soon released, according to sources.
In 2009 he went to local officials to complain about Islamic indoctrination in his school district, arguing that his children should not be forced to learn about Islam.
He was subsequently arrested and found guilty of apostasy by a lower court in Gilan, a province in Rasht, where he and his family live.
The court gave Nadarkhani a chance to recant and return to Islam, but he refused.
Death sentences for apostates in Shariah Law are prescribed both by fatwas, or legal decrees, and reinforced by Iran’s penal code. Article 225 of the Iranian penal code states, "Punishment for an Innate Apostate is death," and "Punishment for a Parental Apostate is death.”
While all religious minorities in Iran, including Bahais, Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians, have faced various forms of persecution and political and social marginalization, the government saves its harshest retribution for those who have abandoned Islam.
By Lisa Daftari
Published February 27, 2012
| FoxNews.com
The Christian pastor sentenced to death in Iran last week for leaving Islam and converting to Christianity was confirmed alive as of early Sunday, sources close to his attorneys told Fox News.
Iran’s government backtracked over the weekend, stating that no execution order had been announced for Youcef Nadarkhani, and that he was being held not for apostasy, but for rape and “other crimes,” according to the Islamic Republic’s state-controlled Press TV.
Nadarkhani’s attorneys believe the government toned down its rhetoric in response to an international outcry. The execution order, however, remained in effect, they said.
Supporters fear Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested more than two years ago on charges of apostasy, fear he may be executed at any time, as death sentences in Iran can be carried out immediately or dragged out for years.
Others fear Nadarkhani will be used in broader political negotiations as Iran endures crippling sanctions and international pressure in response to its nuclear agenda and rogue discourse. The number of executions in Iran has increased significantly in the last month.
“If a human being becomes a bargaining chip for the ayatollah, that’s not a situation that will lead to anything positive,” said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), a human rights advocacy group that has led international campaigns to free Nadarkhani.
“When it’s a high-profile case, they test the international community’s reaction to these stories and how they change as geopolitical priorities shift.”
Iran’s judiciary, fearing its ultimate decision will have far-reaching political implications, has been caught in a bind in determining Nadarkhani’s fate.
Should the court release the pastor, it will appear disrespectful of the tenets of Shariah, or Islamic law, which call for an apostate to be put to death. If it executes him, it will face increasing criticism from the international community that continues to petition for the Nadarkhani’s release.
Dozens of human rights groups along with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 89 members of Congress, and leaders from the European Union, France, Great Britain, Mexico and Germany have condemned Iran for arresting Nadarkhani and have called for his quick release.
Last week, the State Department and White House put out statements condemning Tuesday’s execution verdict.
Congress has scheduled a vote as early as Wednesday on House Resolution 556, which condemns the Iranian government and calls for the pastor’s quick release.
Nadarkhani converted to Christianity at 19 and came under the Islamic regime’s radar in 2006 when he applied for his church to be registered with the state. He was arrested and soon released, according to sources.
In 2009 he went to local officials to complain about Islamic indoctrination in his school district, arguing that his children should not be forced to learn about Islam.
He was subsequently arrested and found guilty of apostasy by a lower court in Gilan, a province in Rasht, where he and his family live.
The court gave Nadarkhani a chance to recant and return to Islam, but he refused.
Death sentences for apostates in Shariah Law are prescribed both by fatwas, or legal decrees, and reinforced by Iran’s penal code. Article 225 of the Iranian penal code states, "Punishment for an Innate Apostate is death," and "Punishment for a Parental Apostate is death.”
While all religious minorities in Iran, including Bahais, Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians, have faced various forms of persecution and political and social marginalization, the government saves its harshest retribution for those who have abandoned Islam.
1 John 3:1a, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
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Re: Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Facing Executi
by bbeba103 » Thu Sep 13, 2012 1:21 am
Christian pastor jailed in Iran for 3 years is freed, watchdog group says
By Perry Chiaramonte Published September 08, 2012
Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was originally sentenced to death in his native country for his Christian faith, was acquitted of apostasy charges and released from custody.
Nadarkhani, 32, was imprisoned for three years and waiting execution for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His charges were lowered to evangelizing to Muslims, which carried a three-year sentence. He was released with time served, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, a Washington-based watchdog group that had been campaigning for the pastor's release.
"Today our sources in Iran reported that Pastor Youcef was acquitted of apostasy and released from prison. After languishing in prison for almost three years, he has been reunited with his family," Jordan Sekulow, executive director of ACLJ said in a statement to FoxNews.com.
"While we are working on confirming the exact details of his release, some sources report that the court alternatively convicted Pastor Youcef of evangelizing to Muslims, sentencing him to three years and granting him time served. Pastor Youcef’s story is an example of how the world can join together to ensure that justice is served and freedom preserved."
Nadarkhani was originally called to Saturday's hearing to answer to "charges brought against him," leading to speculation that the new charges from the Iranian Supreme Court could be for a security-based crime, a charge often handed down to cover-up prisoners being held and sentenced on faith-based charges.
"While we praise the release of Pastor Youcef, we must recognize that Iran felt obligated to save face among its people and continue its pattern of suppressing religious freedom with intimidation tactics," Tiffany Barrans, a legal director for ACLJ said to FoxNews.com.
"International attention to this matter saved this man's life, but we must not forget the human right of freedom of religion includes the right to freedom of expression."
Nadarkhani's attorney, who also has been jailed, maintained that the married father of two faced execution because he refused to renounce his religion. An Iranian diplomat told a United Nations panel earlier this year that Nadarkhani would not be executed.
According to Sharia law, an apostate has three days to recant. The pastor refused to do so and sources close to the matter say executions in Iran can happen at any time, often without notice. The court is reportedly seeking the opinion of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic republic's spiritual leader and highest authority, according to AFP.
The ACLJ worked with the State Department to try to win Nadarkhani's freedom, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution earlier this year condemning his imprisonment and calling for his immediate release. Nearly 3 million people have voiced support for Nadarkhani on Twitter through the "Tweet for Youcef" campaign.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/08 ... roup-says/
By Perry Chiaramonte Published September 08, 2012
Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was originally sentenced to death in his native country for his Christian faith, was acquitted of apostasy charges and released from custody.
Nadarkhani, 32, was imprisoned for three years and waiting execution for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His charges were lowered to evangelizing to Muslims, which carried a three-year sentence. He was released with time served, according to the American Center for Law and Justice, a Washington-based watchdog group that had been campaigning for the pastor's release.
"Today our sources in Iran reported that Pastor Youcef was acquitted of apostasy and released from prison. After languishing in prison for almost three years, he has been reunited with his family," Jordan Sekulow, executive director of ACLJ said in a statement to FoxNews.com.
"While we are working on confirming the exact details of his release, some sources report that the court alternatively convicted Pastor Youcef of evangelizing to Muslims, sentencing him to three years and granting him time served. Pastor Youcef’s story is an example of how the world can join together to ensure that justice is served and freedom preserved."
Nadarkhani was originally called to Saturday's hearing to answer to "charges brought against him," leading to speculation that the new charges from the Iranian Supreme Court could be for a security-based crime, a charge often handed down to cover-up prisoners being held and sentenced on faith-based charges.
"While we praise the release of Pastor Youcef, we must recognize that Iran felt obligated to save face among its people and continue its pattern of suppressing religious freedom with intimidation tactics," Tiffany Barrans, a legal director for ACLJ said to FoxNews.com.
"International attention to this matter saved this man's life, but we must not forget the human right of freedom of religion includes the right to freedom of expression."
Nadarkhani's attorney, who also has been jailed, maintained that the married father of two faced execution because he refused to renounce his religion. An Iranian diplomat told a United Nations panel earlier this year that Nadarkhani would not be executed.
According to Sharia law, an apostate has three days to recant. The pastor refused to do so and sources close to the matter say executions in Iran can happen at any time, often without notice. The court is reportedly seeking the opinion of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic republic's spiritual leader and highest authority, according to AFP.
The ACLJ worked with the State Department to try to win Nadarkhani's freedom, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution earlier this year condemning his imprisonment and calling for his immediate release. Nearly 3 million people have voiced support for Nadarkhani on Twitter through the "Tweet for Youcef" campaign.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/08 ... roup-says/
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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Re: Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Facing Executi
by bbeba103 » Thu Sep 13, 2012 1:22 am
Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkani's lawyer still faces 9 year imprisonment
While Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has recently been freed from three years of imprisonment, his lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, continues to face the threat of a nine-year prison sentence for his past involvement in human rights cases.
By: Katherine Weber Christian Post
Thursday, 13 September 2012, 8:56 (EST)
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which has closely followed the cases of both Nadarkhani and Dadkhah, says that now is the time for the international community to turn its focus to Dadkhah, as he is one of many human rights lawyers who face imprisonment in Iran.
"It is important to remember that after the press subsides on Pastor Youcef's story, his lawyer, a dedicated servant, remains under this threat. Numerous human rights lawyers in Iran are already imprisoned. We will continue to speak out on the numerous human rights abuses in Iran, including those that the attorneys who defend prisoners of conscience face," the ACLJ said of Dadkhah, who legally represented Nadarkhani at his Sept. 8 hearing.
Dadkhah co-founded Iran's now-banned Center for the Defense of Human Rights along with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, Abdolfattah Soltani, Mohammad Seifzadeh, and Mohammad Sharif. He is one of Iran's few human rights lawyers who has yet to be imprisoned by the Iranian government.
Previously, the lawyer has defended 11 Christians in Bandar Anzaly and eight Christians in Shiraz who were arrested for their religious activity.
As the ACLJ previously told The Christian Post of Dadkhah: "He has no personal reason, other than that he believes in human rights, to represent these minority groups, whether it's political opposition or religious minorities, and [goes] out of his way to do so. He really does believe in those human rights."
Dadkhah was informed last month that he would be receiving a nine-year prison sentence for "acting against the national security, spreading propaganda against the regime and keeping banned books at home."
Although the lawyer still faces danger, the fruits of his labor can be seen through the recent release of evangelical Christian Youcef Nadarkhani, who had been imprisoned since Oct. 2009 for apostasy.
Nadarkhani, who originally faced an execution sentence, was released from prison on Saturday, Sept. 8 when a judge lowered his charges from apostasy to evangelizing Muslims, and charged him with a three-year prison sentence. He was then immediately released, as he has already been imprisoned for three years while waiting for his trial to take place.
As the ACLJ told The Christian Post via email, Nadarkhani's release can serve as an example of why it is important to pursue Iran for its religious freedom indiscretions, as more religious prisoners, like Nadarkhani, may be released.
"Pastor Youcef's story is an example of how the world can join together to ensure that justice is served and freedom preserved," said the ACLJ.
"[…] we must not forget the human right of freedom of religion includes the right to freedom of expression. We must also not forget the numerous other religious minorities in Iran who are imprisoned and face persecution for their faith," the conservative Christian group added.
http://au.christiantoday.com/article/ir ... /14067.htm
While Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has recently been freed from three years of imprisonment, his lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, continues to face the threat of a nine-year prison sentence for his past involvement in human rights cases.
By: Katherine Weber Christian Post
Thursday, 13 September 2012, 8:56 (EST)
The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which has closely followed the cases of both Nadarkhani and Dadkhah, says that now is the time for the international community to turn its focus to Dadkhah, as he is one of many human rights lawyers who face imprisonment in Iran.
"It is important to remember that after the press subsides on Pastor Youcef's story, his lawyer, a dedicated servant, remains under this threat. Numerous human rights lawyers in Iran are already imprisoned. We will continue to speak out on the numerous human rights abuses in Iran, including those that the attorneys who defend prisoners of conscience face," the ACLJ said of Dadkhah, who legally represented Nadarkhani at his Sept. 8 hearing.
Dadkhah co-founded Iran's now-banned Center for the Defense of Human Rights along with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, Abdolfattah Soltani, Mohammad Seifzadeh, and Mohammad Sharif. He is one of Iran's few human rights lawyers who has yet to be imprisoned by the Iranian government.
Previously, the lawyer has defended 11 Christians in Bandar Anzaly and eight Christians in Shiraz who were arrested for their religious activity.
As the ACLJ previously told The Christian Post of Dadkhah: "He has no personal reason, other than that he believes in human rights, to represent these minority groups, whether it's political opposition or religious minorities, and [goes] out of his way to do so. He really does believe in those human rights."
Dadkhah was informed last month that he would be receiving a nine-year prison sentence for "acting against the national security, spreading propaganda against the regime and keeping banned books at home."
Although the lawyer still faces danger, the fruits of his labor can be seen through the recent release of evangelical Christian Youcef Nadarkhani, who had been imprisoned since Oct. 2009 for apostasy.
Nadarkhani, who originally faced an execution sentence, was released from prison on Saturday, Sept. 8 when a judge lowered his charges from apostasy to evangelizing Muslims, and charged him with a three-year prison sentence. He was then immediately released, as he has already been imprisoned for three years while waiting for his trial to take place.
As the ACLJ told The Christian Post via email, Nadarkhani's release can serve as an example of why it is important to pursue Iran for its religious freedom indiscretions, as more religious prisoners, like Nadarkhani, may be released.
"Pastor Youcef's story is an example of how the world can join together to ensure that justice is served and freedom preserved," said the ACLJ.
"[…] we must not forget the human right of freedom of religion includes the right to freedom of expression. We must also not forget the numerous other religious minorities in Iran who are imprisoned and face persecution for their faith," the conservative Christian group added.
http://au.christiantoday.com/article/ir ... /14067.htm
Bbeba103
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
~*~ True happiness lies hidden within one's own soul for one to discover. We may not find it until we learn how to make others (or loved one's) happy, selflessly. It is what we see in their happiness, that we will find our true happiness. ~*~
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Re: Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Could Be Facing Executi
by Need2Know » Sat Sep 22, 2012 7:21 pm
Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani wrote the following letter to all those who supported him and his stand for Christ, “the cause that I defend,” following his release after nearly 3 years of illegal imprisonment in Iran for his faith.
Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to Your Name be glory, for Your faithfulness, for Your loyalty…. Psalm 115:1
Salaam! (Peace be upon you!)
I glorify and give grace to the Lord with all my heart. I am grateful for all the blessings that He gave me during my whole life. I am especially grateful for His goodness and divine protection that characterized the time of my detention.
I also want to express my gratitude towards those who, all around the world, have worked for my cause, or should I say the cause that I defend. I want to express my gratitude to all of those who have supported me, openly or in complete secrecy. You are all very dear to my heart. May the Lord bless you and give you His perfect and sovereign Grace.
Indeed I have been put to the test, the test of faith which is, according to the Scriptures “more precious than perishable gold.” But I have never felt loneliness, I was all the time aware of the fact that it wasn’t a solitary battle, for I have felt all the energy and support of those who obeyed their conscience and fought for the promotion of the justice and the rights of all human beings. Thanks to these efforts, I have now the enormous joy to be by my wonderful wife and my children. I am grateful for these people through whom God has been working. All of this is very encouraging.
During that period, I had the opportunity to experience in a marvelous way the Scripture that says: “Indeed, as the sufferings of Christ abound for us, our encouragement abound through Christ.” He has comforted my family and has given them the means to face that difficult situation. In His Grace, He provided for their spiritual and material needs, taking away from me a heavy weight.
The Lord has wonderfully provided through the trial, allowing me to face the challenges that were in front of me. As the Scriptures says, “He will not allow us to be tested beyond our strength….”
Despite the fact that I have been found guilty of apostasy according to a certain reading of the Shar’ia, I am grateful that He gave the leaders of the country, the wisdom to break that judgment taking into account other facts of that same Shar’ia. It is obvious that the defenders of the Iranian right and the legal experts have made an important effort to enforce the law and the right. I want to thank those who have defended the right until the end.
I am happy to live in a time where we can take a critical and constructive look to the past. This has allowed the writing of universal texts aiming at the promotion of the rights of man. Today, we are debtors of these efforts provided by dear people who have worked for the respect of human dignity and have passed on to us these universal significant texts.
I am also debtor of those who have faithfully passed on the Word of God, that very Word who makes us heirs of God.
Before ending, I want to express a prayer for the establishment of an unending and universal peace, so that the will of the Father be done on earth as it is in heaven. Indeed, everything passes, but the Word of God, source of all peace, will last eternally.
May the grace and mercy of God be multiplied to you. Amen!
Youcef Nadarkhani
8 September 2012
Pastor Youcef’s letter (translated into English through Present Truth Ministries) was written the day he was released from an Iranian prison less than two weeks ago. Pastor Youcef had been convicted of apostasy (converting to Christianity) and sentenced to execution by hanging. He was imprisoned for 1062 days, just under 3 years, in violation of Iranian and international law that protects religious liberty.
Pastor Youcef’s story reached millions around the world, and the international outcry for his release greatly impacted his case. The ACLJ’s Tweet for Youcef campaign reached over 3.1 million Twitter accounts worldwide with news about his imprisonment. We will continue fighting for and raising awareness about the hundreds of thousands of people facing persecution for their faith around the world, including hundreds who have been arrested in Iran for their Christian faith.
Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to Your Name be glory, for Your faithfulness, for Your loyalty…. Psalm 115:1
Salaam! (Peace be upon you!)
I glorify and give grace to the Lord with all my heart. I am grateful for all the blessings that He gave me during my whole life. I am especially grateful for His goodness and divine protection that characterized the time of my detention.
I also want to express my gratitude towards those who, all around the world, have worked for my cause, or should I say the cause that I defend. I want to express my gratitude to all of those who have supported me, openly or in complete secrecy. You are all very dear to my heart. May the Lord bless you and give you His perfect and sovereign Grace.
Indeed I have been put to the test, the test of faith which is, according to the Scriptures “more precious than perishable gold.” But I have never felt loneliness, I was all the time aware of the fact that it wasn’t a solitary battle, for I have felt all the energy and support of those who obeyed their conscience and fought for the promotion of the justice and the rights of all human beings. Thanks to these efforts, I have now the enormous joy to be by my wonderful wife and my children. I am grateful for these people through whom God has been working. All of this is very encouraging.
During that period, I had the opportunity to experience in a marvelous way the Scripture that says: “Indeed, as the sufferings of Christ abound for us, our encouragement abound through Christ.” He has comforted my family and has given them the means to face that difficult situation. In His Grace, He provided for their spiritual and material needs, taking away from me a heavy weight.
The Lord has wonderfully provided through the trial, allowing me to face the challenges that were in front of me. As the Scriptures says, “He will not allow us to be tested beyond our strength….”
Despite the fact that I have been found guilty of apostasy according to a certain reading of the Shar’ia, I am grateful that He gave the leaders of the country, the wisdom to break that judgment taking into account other facts of that same Shar’ia. It is obvious that the defenders of the Iranian right and the legal experts have made an important effort to enforce the law and the right. I want to thank those who have defended the right until the end.
I am happy to live in a time where we can take a critical and constructive look to the past. This has allowed the writing of universal texts aiming at the promotion of the rights of man. Today, we are debtors of these efforts provided by dear people who have worked for the respect of human dignity and have passed on to us these universal significant texts.
I am also debtor of those who have faithfully passed on the Word of God, that very Word who makes us heirs of God.
Before ending, I want to express a prayer for the establishment of an unending and universal peace, so that the will of the Father be done on earth as it is in heaven. Indeed, everything passes, but the Word of God, source of all peace, will last eternally.
May the grace and mercy of God be multiplied to you. Amen!
Youcef Nadarkhani
8 September 2012
Pastor Youcef’s letter (translated into English through Present Truth Ministries) was written the day he was released from an Iranian prison less than two weeks ago. Pastor Youcef had been convicted of apostasy (converting to Christianity) and sentenced to execution by hanging. He was imprisoned for 1062 days, just under 3 years, in violation of Iranian and international law that protects religious liberty.
Pastor Youcef’s story reached millions around the world, and the international outcry for his release greatly impacted his case. The ACLJ’s Tweet for Youcef campaign reached over 3.1 million Twitter accounts worldwide with news about his imprisonment. We will continue fighting for and raising awareness about the hundreds of thousands of people facing persecution for their faith around the world, including hundreds who have been arrested in Iran for their Christian faith.
1 John 3:1a, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!"
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:10, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
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