US State Dept to Iran: Release Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Immediately [UPDATE!]

Matthew 5:10

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Tue, Jul. 10, 2012 Posted: 01:43 PM EDT

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The U.S. State Department issued a statement Monday to Iran demanding that Tehran immediately release Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been imprisoned for over 1,000 days.

Noting that July 8 marked the 1,000th day that Nadarkhani had been imprisoned, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said, "Pastor Nadarkhani still faces the threat of execution for simply following his faith, and we repeat our call for Iranian authorities to release him immediately."

Nadarkhani, 35, is facing death simply because he converted to Christianity when he was 19 and has refused on multiple occassions presented by the court to recant his faith. The pastor from Radht, Iran, was born to Muslim parents and came to faith as a teen. As a pastor he led a network of house churches in Iran.

But what led to the pastor's arrest on Oct. 13, 2009, was not his house church activities, but rather becaue he protested the goverment forcing his children to read the Quran in school. He was charged with apostasy and given the death sentence, even though officially Iran's constitution upholds equal rights for religious minorities and there is no official law against apostasy.

The American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian legal group, has been spreading awareness and leading the advocacy campaign to free Nadarkhani. The ACLJ-led campaign "Tweet for Youcef" has over 2.5 million Twitter users from over 230 countries. On Sunday, the 1,000th day of the Iranian pastor's imprisonment, the campaign called for participants to tweet with hashtags #Nadarkhani and #1000illegaldays.

"We want to dispel any rumors that [Nadarkhani's] current apostasy charge, for which he was sentenced to death, has been removed," ACLJ's executive director Jordan Sekulow told CP last Friday. "Until the regime unconditionally exonerates and releases Pastor Youcef, his apostasy charge stands."

Present Truth Ministries, a Minnesota-based organization, said in a statement Thursday that Nadarkhani will likely be tried for crimes against security in September.

“Our sources in Iran have informed us that Youcef has been officially notified of a new trial for crimes against national security in September,” the ministry said. “We assume by implication that this means the charges of apostasy have been dropped since the new charges have been issued, but we have no confirmation of that.”

Back in February, influential American pastor Rick Warren tweeted a request for prayers for another imprisoned Iranian pastor, Behnam Irani, who is currently serving a five-year sentence for alleged crimes against national security.

"Pray for our dear pastor Behnam Irani who's been severely beaten in prison in Iran for preaching Jesus," Warren had tweeted on Feb. 1st.

Irani is a 41-year-old pastor from Karaj, Iran, who became a follower of Jesus Christ in 1992 and a pastor in 2002. He has been arrested for "crimes" against national security twice, all connected to him holding house church services and leading people to Christ. He is currently serving a five year sentence that began in May 2011. Present Truth Ministries, which also reports on the conditions of Nadarkhani, reports that Irani is often beaten and physically abused in prison. His family is concerned that he may die in prison if his condition doesn't improve.

Nadarkhani is next scheduled to appear in court Sept. 8th.

Sources: American Center for Law & Justice; Christian Post; Fox News

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Sees His Family [UPDATE]

II Timothy 2:15

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani spent his 35th birthday in prison in Iran, illegally detained and facing execution for his faith. American Center for Law & Justice [ACLJ] sources in Iran have confirmed that Pastor Youcef was allowed to see his entire family on his birthday. This was a rare family reunion in the jail where he has been held for more than two and a half years since he was arrested for questioning the Muslim indoctrination of his children and later charged and convicted of apostasy.

He was also able to visit with his local Iranian attorneys, an especially rare and important meeting as he faces impending execution for his faith. One of the biggest obstacles in fighting for Pastor Youcef’s freedom is the limited access that this illegally imprisoned pastor, who essentially sits on death row, has with his attorneys.

The ACLJ’s Tweet for Youcef campaign in both English and Portuguese continues to grow with daily tweets about the Christian pastor. The ACLJ is continuing to work aggressively with national and international leaders in the fight to save Pastor Youcef’s life. Please continue to pray for his release. Sources for the ACLJ in Iran have confirmed  that Pastor Youcef was still alive as of April 17, 2012.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani never practiced the Muslim faith and converted to Christianity at age 19, becoming a pastor later. But the courts say that since his mother and father were practicing Muslims, he must recant his Christian faith or die. So far, in three court appearances, he has refused to do so – risking execution at any moment.

According to a court report, the judges told him to repent.

Youcef replied, “Repent, What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?”

The judges answered, “To the religion of your ancestors, Islam.”

To which Yousef replied, “I cannot.”

The Iranian Supreme Court often acts quickly in administering the death penalty. Continue to pray for Pastor Youcef!

Courtesy of American Center for Law & Justice, Newsmax, Reuters

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Spends 35th Birthday Behind Bars [UPDATE]

Here's another UPDATE on Pastor Youcef. Please keep him in your prayers. The article can be read at Pastor Youcef Spends Birthday Behind Bars.


Today, is Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s birthday, and our sources in Iran confirm that he is still alive. Thirty-five years ago, on the 23rd of the Farvardin month of the Persian Calendar, Youcef was born in Iran.

This is the third birthday that Pastor Youcef has been forced to celebrate behind bars, condemned to death in Iran for apostasy – becoming a Christian in a regime governed by Shariah (Islamic) law.

Tomorrow, marks exactly two and a half years of imprisonment – 913 days illegally held in prison for his faith.

Both the Iranian Constitution and the International Declaration of Human Rights, of which Iran is a signatory, not only forbid executing someone for their faith but expressly protect religious freedom. Despite these assurances of religious freedom, Iran continues to imprison Pastor Youcef indefinitely for charges related solely to the exercise of his faith.

Today, Christians and supporters of Pastor Youcef all around the world are holding a fasting and prayer vigil for the persecuted pastor to bring attention to his plight. Just last week, hundreds of Christians and supporters of religious liberty attended a vigil and march for Pastor Youcef’s release in Hamburg, Germany.

These are just a few examples of the increasing international pressure being placed on Iran to release Pastor Youcef. Nations like the United Kingdom, Brazil, and many others are directly demanding that Iran immediately and unconditionally release Pastor Youcef.

The ACLJ’s Tweet for Youcef campaign is now reaching nearly 1.5 million Twitter accounts around the world each day with updates about Pastor Youcef. His story has reached over 91 percent of the United Nations member states, including Iran. The Tweet for Youcef Brazil campaign in Portuguese also continues to see tremendous growth.

Even with this increasing international pressure on Iran for Pastor Youcef’s release, it is critically important to remember that Pastor Youcef is still in an Iranian prison under a death sentence that could be carried out at any time. The only reason that he is still alive today is because of the international outcry against this abhorrent situation. It is not enough that Iran remove his death sentence, rather we must demand his ultimate and unconditional freedom.

Please continue to pray for Pastor Youcef. As a Birthday present for Pastor Youcef and symbol of solidarity for those persecuted for their faith, please let the world know that you support Pastor Youcef by signing up to Tweet for Youcef today.

Happy Birthday Pastor Youcef.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Still Alive - UPDATE!

II Timothy 4:5

"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

By Jordan Sekulow

American Center for Law & Justice [ACLJ]

As of Saturday afternoon, March 3, 2012, the ACLJ’s sources in Iran have confirmed that Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still alive.

Reports that his execution occurred earlier today are false, and images being circulated purporting to be from his execution are outdated and demonstratively false.

The ACLJ still believes that the execution order has been issued, but we can confirm that as of today Pastor Youcef is still alive. International pressure continues to build on Iran.

Please continue to pray and Tweet for Youcef, as we fight for his life.

Say Nothing, Do Nothing

Romans 2:13
"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth."

I can't help but think of the terrible price President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad & the mullahs will pay at the Great White Throne for killing one of God's children (Rev. 20:11-15). As for Pastor Yousef, he'll be in glory if the Iranian government follows through with the hanging.

In the meantime, I came across this op-ed piece by Peter Bella. I hope it causes some of you out there to pray for the Nadarkani Family. Maybe the Lord will move you to do more. I don't know. But, please be prayerful.

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CHICAGO, February 26, 2012— Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani is facing execution in Iran. His crimes? He is an apostate who abandoned Islam.

He was convicted of practicing Christianity, trying to register home churches, and questioning the mandatory Islamic religious education of his children.

The pastor was given an option. Recant his faith and he can live. His faith is his life. He refused. He is condemned to be lynched.

There has been quite a bit of “concerned” diplomatic palavering over this case. So far our President has not made any strong public comments or apologies. Neither have the Secretary of State or any other high government official.

No books were burned so why condemn something as insignificant as a mere human life? The life of a many who chose Chirstianity over the violence of Islam.

Granted it is no one but the Pastor's fault that he will not save his own life by recanting. There is no reason to get upset about it. It is not like a book, even a Koran, was burned, cartoons published, movies made, or other kinds of freedom expressed.

Those must be condemned, strongly discouraged, apologized for continuously, people held accountable, or in the case of our so-called brave nation, never happen.

So it must be that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani killed. But even then, he is not some famous celebrity murderer on death row who must be saved by international protests, marches, and tearful pleadings from the beautiful, and liberal, people.

He is just a Christian. If he is willing to die for his faith, why bother? Let him die.

There is something else not happening. Christians around the world are not rioting, loudly protesting at mosques or burning them. They are not fomenting other violent acts or killing Muslims.

There aren’t even any mass protests.

There is no or very little condemnation of Muslim theocracies or autocracies. There are no scathing fiery editorials in our so-called free press condemning Iran or radical Islam for this gross violation of human rights.

There are no preachers in their pulpits spewing hell, fire, and brimstone. There are only statements of “concern”.

No one is creating phony terms like Christianophobia, and accusing Iran, or other nations of practicing that. No one is starting fake civil rights organizations. No one is demanding our president say something, or do something.

Every one is being oh so very polite, “concerned” and diplomatic. Islamophilia has taken hold in America and our government. We are silent witless enablers in the face of murder and persecution. It is the right thing to do. It is the politically correct thing to do. It is the multi-cultural thing to do. It is the civilized thing to do.

It is cowardly thing to do.

Burn some books, publish cartoons, make films, or in any way insult the so-called religion of peace or their prophet and there are riots, violence, terrorism, and murder.

It is a perfectly acceptable response, proper conduct and worthy of apologies and promises of accountability from high public officials. We must understand and respect their feelings and excuse the violence, murder, and terrorism, or threat thereof.

Insult the Pope, religious symbols, icons, or any other major religious figure; there is no harm, no foul. Burn some Bibles; oh those are just a bunch of books, no harm, no foul. Murder, execute, and violently persecute Christians, Jews, or people of other faiths, no harm, no foul.

Insult the Prophet and you better apologize toute de suite or else.

So when Iran lynches Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani you can feel proud you did and said nothing. When they take his life you can feel good that you were a the model of a politically correct poltroon.

When his family grieves, if they are not arrested and murdered too, you can pat yourself on the back for being the epitome of a multi-cultural buffoon. You were a perfectly civilized cretin.

Your self esteem will be rewarded because you are not uncouth, illiterate, and uneducated. You acted in a civilized manner while a man was brutally lynched for his faith by an uncivilized nation.
Yes, you. The media, our governments, our high profile preachers, our bobble headed activist celebrities, our pastors, and, well, all of us.

This is why evil regimes like Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia, will win in end. This is why radicals and extremists will be victorious. They do what they want, let their people do what they want, and snub their noses at the world.

When they demand apologies, groveling, and prostration, we apologize, grovel, and prostrate.

Western civilization has turned into cowardly apologists for radical and extremist insanity. We bow down to the whims of violence; hoping against hope, it stops. We cave in.

We are the Kumbaya civilization. Unlike the fanatical extremist Muslims, we sit around the campfire in ecumenical love and brotherhood. They kill. We chant. They murder. We apologize. They terrorize we grovel.

Whether Yousef Nadarkhani lives, dies, or is coerced and tortured into recanting his faith, our diplomatic, civilized, and polite silence is testimony to the world that we just give lip service to freedom and human rights.

One more thing. This is not the first time America, the West, their media, and their governments were silent cowards. We were silent in the 1930s and 40s in the face of genocide.

Six million Jews were murdered before anyone spoke up.

And as the famous poem goes, who is going to stand up for you.

Peter V. Bella is a retired Chicago Police Officer, freelance writer and photographer, cook, and raconteur. He likes to be the sharp stick that pokes, prods, and annoys. His opinions are his and his alone.

This article is the copyrighted property of the writer and Communities @ WashingtonTimes.com.