Persecution of Christian pastor continues

Apparently the Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has not been executed by the Iranians but neither is he free. His case continues, with his crime having been expanded from Christian evangelism to being a security threat, an agent of Israel, and a rapist. Apparently those later charges were only added in the last week, after his case for apostasy had been going on for two years. But as International Business Times explains, the death sentence passed on him by an Iranian court in 2010 made it clear he was being punished for leaving Islam (assuming he had ever been a Muslim to begin with):

Mr. Youcef Nadarkhani, son of Byrom, 32 years old, married, born in Rasht in the state of Gilan, is convicted of turning his back on Islam, the greatest religion the prophesy of Mohammad at the age of 19,” the document states.

He has often participated in Christian worship and organized home church services, evangelizing and has been baptized and baptized others, converting Muslims to Christianity. He has been accused of breaking Islamic Law that from puberty (15 years according to Islamic law) until the age of 19 the year 1996, he was raised a Muslim in a Muslim home.

During court trials, he denied the prophecy of Mohammad and the authority of Islam. He has stated that he is a Christian and no longer Muslim. 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.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at October 07, 2011 11:20 PM | Send