By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
RASHT, IRAN (ANS) -- Sources close to the Yousef Nadarkhani apostasy case have informed Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) www.csw.co.uk that Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyers have been told to expect a decision from the Supreme Leader in mid-December, occasioning fears that it may be issued to coincide with the Christmas season in order to avoid an international outcry.
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Pastor Youcef and his wife. (Photo courteys of Present Truth Ministries). |
CSW says the court in Rasht has sent two letters regarding the case to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, but is still awaiting a response.
According to CSW, other members of Pastor Nadarkhani’s denomination are also facing difficulties.
CSW has been informed that the Revolutionary Court in Shiraz has asked three Church of Iran members to surrender themselves to the authorities to begin prison sentences.
Pastor Behrouz Sadegh-Khanjani, Mr. Mohammad Beliad and his wife Nazly Beliad were part of a larger a group that is due to serve one year sentences for ‘crimes against the order’ following an unsuccessful appeal earlier this year.
PastorKhanjani is also known to have been tortured during a previous imprisonment in Shiraz. Their lawyer has advised them not to present themselves until a written request has been issued.
Pastor Benham Irani of the Church of Iran is currently serving a five year sentence, whilst Farshid Fathi Malayeri, who belongs to a different denomination, remains detained without charge nearly eleven months after his arrest.
Church leader Noorollah Ghabitizadeh, who was arrested on Christmas Eve in 2010, is still being held in Ahwaz and, according to Mohabat News, has been verbally informed he may receive a death sentence. Like Pastor Nadarkhani, he too has been asked to recant his faith.
CSW’s Team Leader for Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Khataza Gondwe, said, “It is worrying that the Supreme Leader has delayed a decision on Pastor Nadarkhani’s case, leaving the pastor and his family in a distressing state of limbo. We continue to urge a swift decision, and to call for a full acquittal and release, since the verdict is in violation of Iranian law, and of the spirit of article 23 of the Iranian constitution.
“The Supreme Leader now has an opportunity to demonstrate Iran’s commitment to work within its own civil law code, where apostasy is not a codified crime, and its obligations as a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which allows for freedom of religion and belief. The international community must remain vigilant in order to ensure that the Iranian authorities cannot use a hiatus to issue a negative ruling. Iran must also be urged to cease the detention of individuals without charge, and to uphold the rights and freedoms of members of minority faiths.”
Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries www.presenttruthmn.com says Pastor Nadarkhani remains in Lakan Prison in Iran’s Gilan Province.
“He continues to stand strong in his faith and remains in good spirits and health,” DeMars told ANS.
DeMars said the 11th circuit court in Gilan is awaiting a response to their two letters that were written to the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khameini.
“One of Youcef’s attorneys stated that the court will wait for one month for a response. If they do not have it, they will issue a ruling sometime in mid-December,” he said.
Continue to pray for brother Youcef, that God would sustain him and give him courage and boldness to testify to those around him, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organization working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.
For further information or to arrange interviews please contact the Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663
| ** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter |  |
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