Faith

So, What Is Iran Saying Now About Pastor Yousef’s Conviction & Death Sentence?

Iran Is Backtracking Again on Pastor Yousefs Conviction & Death Sentence

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has been working diligently in an effort to free Yousef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor who has purportedly been sentenced to death over his conversion from Islam to Christianity.

A few days ago, the Blaze reported on a major change in the accusations waged against Nadarkhani. While he was originally sentenced to death over his Christian faith (read for more background information here), the government has since changed the charge against him to rape.

And now, the Iranian government, again, appears to be backtracking. The ACLJ has the latest:

Today, there are new disturbing and conflicting falsehoods being spread by Iranian state-funded Press TV. The latest report from this Iranian controlled media states that the Judiciary Chief Mohammad-Javad Heshmati of the Gilan Province, where Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s apostasy conviction originated, stated today that “Youssef Nadar-Khani has been charged with a crime and is in a prison based on an arrest warrant issued against him. . . . There has been no execution order. No conviction at all has been issued yet and it is up to the court to finally decide the verdict after studying his case.”

Iran Is Backtracking Again on Pastor Yousefs Conviction & Death SentenceOddly, the article cited in the ACLJ piece goes on to say (emphasis mine):

Western media have manipulated the case of Nadar-Khani, a convicted rapist and extortionist in Gilan Province, to wage an anti-Iran publicity campaign by falsely claiming that his criminal conviction his conversion to Christianity and acting as a ‘priest.’

Here, the state-controlled media outlet claims he is a “convicted rapist and extortionist,” but the government is apparently claiming that he has not actually been convicted. One can’t help but wonder which claim is true. The ACLJ shares in trying to dig through this confusion:

…this article reports that “there is no execution order” and that “his verdict has not been finalized,” and then in the same article calls him “a convicted rapist” who is “guilty of his crime.”

What the Iranian government is likely forgetting here is that the ACLJ has a copy of the Supreme Court’s verdict. This document, which the government has likely tried to keep from public view, claims that the Youcef is guilty of “turning his back on Islam.” The penalty, as noted, is “execution by hanging.”

No other charges are mentioned in the document, yet Iran now claims that his move away from Islam isn’t at the root of the case — a development that many, including ACLJ staff, believe to be fabricated. What originated as a conversion charge continues to evolve.

Present Ministries reports more about the developments occurring in the case:

We have been informed that the verdict has been delayed and is now to be delivered on Monday October 10th. The delay could be interpreted as a sign that the judges have decided to consult with key religious and political leaders, such as the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei or President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the ACLJ, tells the Blaze:

“We expect and hope that the verdict will be delivered on Monday. Yet, because of the increasingly high profile nature of this case, much could change over the next five days in Iran.”

The ACLJ is in regular contact with Youcef’s lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, and the Blaze will have further details as they become available.

(H/T: ACLJ)

Comments (59)

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  • marthasusan40
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 7:13pm

    Where is the left coverage of this. Where is Mrs. Clinton….why is she silent about this…may God have mercy on the souls who murder him. We know that he will be in Gods hands if this evil is done..

    Report Post »  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:35pm

    Oh what webs they weave.. every day the totally insane change their story… meanwhile this guy is languishing in jail or prison and who knows is suffering what and his family is suffering also.. Where is Hillary Clinton.. did she retire or are we going to have to be blest with her running against Obama.. and who in their right mind would vote another idiotic Demoncrat into office??

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
    • Egad
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:27pm

      Guess Hillary wasn’t available for that 3 a.m. phone call.

      Report Post »  
    • christianUSA
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 11:43pm

      Opinion: Maybe Hillary is to busy helping another group of isamic take over another country?
      Ok But why not try: Liberal Left and or Obama / Hillary please help a Christian false accused in Iran!

      Report Post »  
    • SlimnRanger
      Posted on October 6, 2011 at 9:00am

      The Church i attend has been praying for the release of this young pastor,i realize his last breath here on earth ,his next breath will be in Heaven,but none the less we are still praying for him and his family.

      Report Post »  
  • justice
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:08pm

    Obama stuck his nose in every other MiddleEastern turmoil, why not Iran and saving this man and the People. Because he is Christian. Pray for him People.

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:53pm

    God will surely bless this man. Iran may execute him but his soul belongs to God.

    Report Post »  
  • Taxpayer550
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:37pm

    Take a good, long look at Iran, because if Obama gets a second term, we won’t be much different.

    May God continue to protect the life of Youcef Nadarkhani and his family.

    Report Post » Taxpayer550  
  • sndrman
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:35pm

    where are the liberals,progressives,socialists,communists in America who yell and scream state and Church, and want a one world gov’t how do they reconsile this? where are the liberal,socalists yelling and screaming about this? hyprocrits

    Report Post »  
    • vennoye
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:51pm

      Just doesn’t fit their agenda………can’t be bothered about it!!

      Report Post » vennoye  
  • Callisto
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:32pm

    @Blackhawk1

    Almost – when they run out of Christians, Jews, Hindus, and others to threaten, they bomb each other.

    Report Post » Callisto  
  • mad_hatter
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:27pm

    Here is something interesting. Romney has been the only presidential candidate that has written against Iran’s treatment of this pastor and the lies they are saying about him. He also wrote to Iran to tell them of his distain for this treatment. I read his statement at http://www.thedailycandidate.com/ yesterday. Where are all the other candidates? This is something they will all have to address??? I know Cain would back the pastor, yet he hasn’t spoken up… Bachmann, Perry…

    We need to be vocal on things like this.

    Report Post »  
    • politicaljules
      Posted on October 6, 2011 at 3:34am

      You are one piece of work. Attacking other candidates like that and pretending Romney is some kind of God because he wrote a letter??? You have done Romney a great disservice with that little display of inappropriate comments. Romney is McCain. Romney is the establishment republican. Romney is only running because it was his turn. Romney is a flip flopping fool who hand wrote an invitation for obamacare to start in his state first. Romney does not deserve the nomination and he will not get the nomination. Romney has been supported by more liberals and more liberal media pundits enough to scare any teapartier into not voting for him.

      Report Post »  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:26pm

    “The age of miracles is forever here” I pray that this is one.

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:21pm

    A true Christian. A brave man. God bless him.

    Report Post »  
  • NOMOBIGDRAMANOBAMA
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:17pm

    @BornAgainCowGirl

    Lord Hear Our Prayer, Amen.

    Report Post »  
  • Gamaliel
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:13pm

    Keep praying!

    Report Post »  
  • NOMOBIGDRAMANOBAMA
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:11pm

    This brave man is willing to die for his belief in Jesus and God all the while protesters filled with hate sit spouting BS on Wall St,, in the greatest country God every devised. My prayers are with this man and his family and with the country I grew up in which still believed in Jesus and God. I am a Christian and I stand with the Jewish people and Isreal. I also stand with this hero in Iran, may God Bless and Keep him.

    Report Post »  
  • Rillobymorning
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:07pm

    The US has not taken a strong enough stance on this issue. Where’s our Secretary of State? We need to renounce this in a much stronger way than we have.

    Report Post »  
  • Skrewedretiree
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:06pm

    Iran may be the most virulent of the radical muslim countries, but Islam and Sharia Law are the deal no matter where the muslim is. The Koran is the Koran, and that religion, regardless of what President Bush told us after 9/11, is NOT a “religion of peace”! It is a Satanic Cult of Death and Submission. If you are a Christian, one would not be wrong is supposing that Mohammed was the Anti-Christ. The muslims admit to his number being 666 (look up Mohammed and 666 and see for yourself). Islam is spreading all over the world, because Liberal governments, our own included, want to be “inclusive”. Islam wants to be “inclusive” too, but inclusive means you join and submit or you die! Islam must be STOPPED!

    Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
  • riseandshine
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:02pm

    I’m optimistic about his eventual release….we can hope. It’s good that there has been light shone on this case, for all of the world to see.

    Report Post » riseandshine  
  • bornagaincowgirl
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:01pm

    May God continue to bless Pastor Yousef and his family with His presence, His grace, His strength, His Divine protection and intervention, and His comfort. Pastor Yousef is very brave and a true Witness, a brother, a member of the family of God.

    Report Post »  
  • motherof18
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:56pm

    Many many people are saying that the consciousness of Muslims is no longer the consciousness of human beings. It has been transformed into the consciousness of absolutely mechanical Islamic monstrocities.

    Report Post »  
    • bornagaincowgirl
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:11pm

      All of their rules just make them “mechanical,” rules/religion run amuck…no true relationship with God.

      Report Post »  
    • Skrewedretiree
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 8:05pm

      Ditto! The footage on the internet of the Afghans “stoning” (kicking, beating and then bludgeoning a young girl of about 8-12 for refusing an arranged “marriage” to some old pedophile “Leader”) with a concrete construction block until they smashed her skull and blood ran into a pool showed me almost everything I needed to know about Islam. 9/11 showed me the rest. Or, actually, it was vice-versa. Death to Islam!

      Report Post » Skrewedretiree  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:51pm

    ROSE-ELLEN’s friends are pathological liars

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:46pm

    Why doesn’t Iran just exile him? That would be a win-win situation for both. If Oblamus would agree to let Yousef into the US, that is. Obama’s silence on this is deafening.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • WhatsYerProblem
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:48pm

      Iran’s probably waiting for a ransom (bribe) payment like they did for the hikers. Gotta pay for those centrifuges somehow!

      Report Post » WhatsYerProblem  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on October 5, 2011 at 5:15pm

      WhatsYerProblem

      That makes sense. Ransom like how North Korea holds us hostage. there economy is in bad shape. they had to cut subsidies to the “people”. where are the “Wall Street Protester”?

      Report Post »  
  • marhee9
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:37pm

    Iran flip flops on everything. They seem to be on the verge of a major uprising. Which would probably be the best thing that could happen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVBEevXrITc

    Report Post »  
  • Vechorik
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:35pm

    Negotiation triumphs over bombs.
    (You seriously think China will let the US wipe Iran off the map?)

    Report Post »  
  • MidWestMom
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:35pm

    Iran lies. About everything & anything.

    Report Post »  
  • WhatsYerProblem
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:31pm

    Keep praying! God’s working!

    Report Post » WhatsYerProblem  
  • Blackhawk1
    Posted on October 5, 2011 at 4:31pm

    The religion of peace unless you happen to disagree with them.

    Report Post » Blackhawk1  
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