Youcef Nadarkhani could be executed at any time. An update on this story. "Iranian Pastor Sentenced to Death: Nadarkhani Refuses to Convert," from International Business Times, September 29 (thanks to Kenneth):
Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who is facing the death penalty, again refused to convert to Islam to save his life.
Nadarkhani was arrested in 2009 for the crime of apostasy because he allegedly abandoned Islam for Christianity. As a pastor, Iranian clerics believe that Nadarkhani was preaching in order to convert Muslims.
Like apostasy, the propagation of non-Islamic religions is forbidden under Islamic law.
Before his last hearing Wednesday, Nadarkhani had been given three previous chances to repent, and all three times he has refused. After his final refusal Wednesday, no verdict has been announced, but many expect that he could be put to death as soon as Friday.
The case has slowly garnered international attention, and there are a number of Christian rights groups advocating for his release.
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner also has spoken out against Iran. "While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare [Nadarkhani's] life, and grant him a full and unconditional release," said Boehner.
There were rumors on Wednesday night that Nadarkhani's execution sentence was to be waived after the final trial, but contradicting reports indicate that the news was incorrect.
"We've had some reports that there has been a verbal announcement from the court in Iran that the sentence is annulled but we urge caution," said Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a religious group campaigning for Nadarkhani's release.
"It's been known that verbal announcements have been directly contradicted by later written statements. We are still calling for international pressure to be kept up."
The American Center for Law and Justice said in a message titled "Troubling News" that the rumors were spread by the Iranian secret service in an attempt to get the media to stop reporting the story. ACLJ said Nadarkhani's lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah called the center Wednesday to say the death sentence hasn't been overturned.
Even if the sentence were commuted, Nadarkhani could still face life in prison. And even if he were released, there would still be danger.
"In Iran about 18 years ago, they had released a pastor, but then came and assassinated him and his bishop later. We cannot stop the pressure," Pastor Firouz Sadegh-Khandjani, a Member of the Council of Elders for the Church of Iran, told the ACLJ.
Between June 2010 and January 2011, more than 200 people in Iran were arrested for their religious beliefs, according to Elam Ministries, a United Kingdom-based church with ties to Iran....
Saint Yousef Nadarkani.
Confessor and Martyr of the Church in Persia.
Every Islamic cleric and apologist for Islam and da'wa artist and spin doctor within the non-Muslim world should be confronted with this man's case, and their reaction observed.
Indeed, every Muslim that any one here happens to know, should be confronted with this man's case (as also with the case of Aasia Bibi)).
If you have oh-so-nice, smiling, 'moderate' Muslim "friends" or colleagues, tell them about Youcef Nadarkani, express your wholehearted support for him and for the principle of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion - and your disgust with and contempt for the government of Iran, and your rejection of and contempt for the iniquitous Sharia requirement that those who leave Islam for another faith - or for no faith - must be killed...and then watch their eyes.
Ask them point blank what they would do if their son or daughter or sister or brother did - here in the West - what Nadarkani has done, that is, convert to Christianity.
And when they answer, listen for the tone, and watch their eyes, and their body language.
Iranian influence must not be allowed to spread. The Ayatollahs and their ridiculous spokesperson Ahmadinejad are ruthless tyrants with no regard to human rights, rule of law, sanctity of life or other vestige of living in a civilized world.
The west will soon face a nuclear Iran. What a scary thought knowing that their apocalyptic fantasies can be realized.
They (Iranian leaders) exhibit madness to the extent that any psychiatrist would deem them insane and not in touch with reality.
When is all the rhetoric going to end and once and for all we end this virulent attack on civilization.
http://schnellmann.org/death_for_apostasy.html
4:89 "...But if they turn renegade ("reject faith", leave Islam),
seize them and slay them wherever ye find them"
4.88-9 (Hilali-Khan).... Comment: Ali Sina This verse is a command to slay apostates. “emigrate in the way of Allah” (Arabic: “yuhajiroo fee sabili Allahi”, transliterated: “make Hijra in the way of Allah”) means; interpreting “hijra” in its spiritual sense, to “become Muslim” and thus people who “turn back” are turning back or away from Islam – i.e. becoming apostate....
Islam exposed in all its brutality, intolerance and inhumanity!
OT: Anwar Al-Awlaki won't be down for breakfast.
Disgusting - medieval! How can anybody wonder why Israel will not deal with muslim/islamic groups? How can anybody even consider a Palestinian state - especially on Israel's doorstep? Israel is defending us, as well as themselves - we should be grateful and support them at every turn. The dhimmis and apologists need to consider what is happening in the real islamic world, not some romantic notion of 'Arabian Nights'
The civilised world has launched more of an outcry over Nadarkhani's life than it did after the Iranian mullah's stole an election and followed up by butchering its own citizens.
And still no Western media has had the courage to let the people know that Muslims take Islam seriously, and where the Koran prescribes the execution of apostates then lenience indicates weakness - if not dissent against Allah.
Shame on Mohammed! Glory for Christ Jesus!
Off topic, but loosely relevant to the question of the death penalty:
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/09/pakistani-family-refuses-to-kill-daughter-who-was-raped-drawing-anger/245691/
It's heartwarming that the whole family defied the pressure and kept their moral compass. So many ordinary Muslims are so much kinder and more sensible than the sharia bullies.
They asked him not three, but FOUR times? Wow, praise to allah! They really must be "moderates"...
so much for the big lie of Islam that there is no coercion. ISLAM, WHAT A PATHETIC RELIGION OF TERROR DEATH AND FRAUD RAPE MURDER STEALING......May the Lord God deliver this man of courage and faith, and his family from this vile wicked ungodly regime and religion.
The Koranic B/S about 'No compulsion in religion' is abrogated (cancelled) by the later verse 'Kill the unbelievers wherever you find them' .
All Muslims know this and only quote the peaceful verses out of the Koran to fool gullible infidels: http://crombouke.blogspot.com/2010/01/abrogation-of-koran-koranic.html
Islam violates Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance".
Islam should be outlawed in every democratic country on this violation alone, it should be banned by the United Nations on this alone.
What do you have to say about this President Obama? The dhimmi press won't touch this with a ten foot pole, this point should be brought up whenever Islam is promoted by the left wing fools.
Where is the outcry from world leaders -- religious and political?
When some back woods pastor in Florida threatened to burn a Qur'an, world leaders from the Pope to President Obama were throwing hissy fits of righteous indignation. Even the normally bland Prime Minister of Canada called the Pastor to express his outrage.
But when it is an innocent Christian pastor who is being executed, which world leader -- religious or otherwise -- gives a rats patootie? It shows what our leadership today regards as "sacred", and it is not an encouraging scene.
Its time for a moral revolution from the comman people. Its time to show the radical Muslim hordes and our discretion free (politically correct)elite that "we the people" regard human life as sacred.
Of course the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a noble effort...but it was not good enough for Islam and Muslims...It was replaced in Islamic countries by the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights which is similiar but with notable differences:
"In its concluding articles 24 and 25, the Cairo Declaration maintains, [article 24], “All the rights and freedoms stipulated in this Declaration are subject to the Islamic Shari’a”; and [article 25] “The Islamic Shari’a is the only source of reference for the explanation or clarification to any of the articles of this Declaration.”"
"These statements capture the indelible influence of the Islamic religious law Shari’a — the Cairo Declaration claiming supremacy based on “divine revelation,” which renders sacred and permanent the notion of inequality between the community of Allah, and the infidels. Thus we can see clearly the differences between the Cairo Declaration, which sanctions the gross inequalities inherent in the Shari’a, and its Western human rights counterparts (the US Bill of Rights; the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights), which do not refer to any specific religion or to the superiority of any group over another, and stress the absolute equality of all human beings."
utter aversion and hate for this so-called religion is aroused in many by the adherents to the teachings of Muhammad, especially when they deny FREEDOM of CONSCIENCE to anyone.
disgust can only be shown for such minds advocating SHARIA for all, when the motive is subjugation to NOTHING but raw brutality; this, to please a non-existent (imaginary) deity suffering a blood lust, unable to accomplish anything other than corruption, denigration and ruin.
this body of law (SHARIA) so contradicts TORAH.
JIHAD so contradicts AGAPE.
Also, consider that mainstream Muslim organizations in this country have not signed onto the Freedom Pledge for ex-Muslim rights, nor have they taken any initiative for ex-Muslim rights that I know of.
http://formermuslimsunited.org/?page_id=2167
"Islam exposed in all its brutality, intolerance and inhumanity!"
and... weakness!!!
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2010/05/dying-islam-lislam-mourant.html
The world needs to know that Islam has a satanic root. I pray he be released to serve the Lord Jesus. Whatever happens, God is involved!
Romans 8
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I'm sure Yousef Nadarkani understands Luke 9:24 very well,
"For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; for he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall save it."
He has found Christ, and to go back to a life under Islam wouldn't be a life at all. God bless you, Mr. Nadarkani. I hope that you will have the peace of Christ that you sought and found, whichever way this goes, very soon.
Watch out, Iran! The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
Shame on Islam again for more than the millionth time. What an abomination Islam is.
Mr Nadarkani by his steadfast courage under threat of death - and he is unarmed, a prisoner - brings honour to the name of Persia.
Such as he, by the grace of God, are the glory that Persia will bring into the heavenly Jerusalem, the holy City.
His long-ago pre-Islamic ancestors, whether Christian or Zoroastrian, would be proud of him.
Those who witnessed the horror of the Arab Islamic conquest of their country would surely be delighted to know that one of their descendants had freed himself of the Arab Death Cult and was prepared to die rather than submit to its bizarre nonsense.
As for those who are threatening him, mistreating him, and preparing to murder him; *they* are a disgrace to their ancestors and bring shame upon their country. Cyrus would be disgusted.