Pressure Mounts on Iran to Acquit Christian Pastor

By John Zarocostas, Ecumenical News International

International pressure is mounting on Iranian courts to acquit a Christian pastor sentenced to death last year for apostasy. The Supreme Court of Qom overturned the sentence but still ruled if it was proven he was a Muslim upon his conversion and does not repent his conversion, the execution may be carried out.

Yousef Nadarkhani, a 33 year-old minister of the Church of Iran and pastor of a 400-member congregation in the city of Rasht, was sentenced to death last November by a state court for apostasy (abandonment of a religion) and evangelizing Muslims.

Following an appeal, the court, according to an unofficial translation provided by the Washington DC-based American Center for Law and Justice, determined that “if it can be proved that [Yousef] was a practicing Muslim as an adult and has not repented (of his conversion), the execution will be carried out.” . . .

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