Pastor To Be Executed - Get Involved!

Christians know there is coming a day when we will be told to renounce our faith in Jesus Christ, or suffer severely. Well that day is here for an Iranian paster who has NEVER been muslim.

Pastor Nadarkhani will face execution within days if he refuses to renounce his Christian faith.

The Iranian supreme court will hold a hearing Wednesday to give Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani one last opportunity to recant, according to the British group Christianity Solidarity Worldwide.

Nadarkhani has already refused to recant his faith in court previously.

"As far as we understand, he will be asked again if he wishes to recant," CSW press officer Kiri Kankhwende said. "Should he refuse, we understand that he will be facing an execution."

CSW is calling for urgent action.

-Voice your concerns now to the Iranian Embassy here.
-You can also call the Iranian liaison office in the U.S. State Department.
- The number is 202-647-6575.

Boehner Rebukes Iran

Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner chastised the Islamic republic for what he characterized as its blatant violation of Nadarkhani's religious rights.
"While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith," Boehner said in a statement released Wednesday.

He added that Nadarkhani's pending execution "goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity."

"I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare Yousef Nadarkhani's life, and grant him a full and unconditional release," Boehner said.

CSW said Iranian law doesn't define apostasy or its punishment. The group said that, in this case, the courts are using fatwas (Islamic rulings) issued by powerful ayatollahs (Muslim religious leaders).

"This whole situation, the charges against him and the punishment he's facing, are illegal -- not only by the Iranian Constitution but the international treaties to which Iran is a party to," Kankhwende said.

Crackdown on Christians

The pastor's case is an example of Iran's current crackdown on Christians.

Recently, the government openly admitted that Iranians are leaving the Islamic faith and becoming Christians.

"In particular in this last year, this persecution has gained momentum, and I really think that is because the church is growing with increasing momentum," U.S. director of Elam Ministries David Yeghnazar said.

Many believe Nadarkhani was targeted because he spoke out. He recently questioned the Muslim monopoly on the religious instruction of children in Iran.

I'm sure Pastor Nadarkhani's family would appreciate you getting involved by makin a simple phone call. I know I would. 202-647-6575

2011 April Lorier Perspective