TRI In The News

Christians to Obama: Lean on Iran

September 30, 2011

9/30/2011

TRI IN THE NEWS: CHRISTIANS TO OBAMA: LEAN ON IRAN

From World Net Daily

Christians are telling Barack Obama to start leaning on Iran, to convince the radical Muslims in charge to prevent the possible execution of a Christian pastor who has refused to renounce his beliefs.

The situation involves Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was given a death penalty for apostasy.

His execution could come at virtually any time, Christian organizations in the U.S. fear.

Now in a letter sent to Obama, Iranian ambassador to the U.N. Mohammad Khazzaee, the U.N. Commissioner on Human Rights, and members of Congress, Rutherford Institute President and Founder John Whitehead says it's time for the leader of the free world to take a stand to save Nadarkhani's life.

"The voice of the free world is the president of the United States. … There's no reason why we should allow this man to be executed without making a moral statement," Whitehead said.

"He's the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. He should be making peace in countries where there's turmoil and death and depravation of rights," Whitehead said.

There actually was a statement from the White House, where Press Secretary Jay Carney expressed the administration's condemnation of Iran's treatment of Nadarkhani.

"The United States condemns the conviction of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people. That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations," the statement said.

It continued, "A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion."

Whitehead said that's a move in the right direction, but there needs to be more pressure. He said that was his goal in writing his letter.

"This group, Iran, is a signatory on the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. It's clear that they should not be doing these things. It's hypocritical," Whitehead said.

Whitehead said an earlier letter voicing concern for Nadarkhani's safety raised eyebrows in official circles.

"The State Department has called here saying they were aware of the situation and were working on it," Whitehead said.

The ordeal apparently started after Nadarkhani protested the government's decision to teach Islam to Christian children. Nadarkhani's own children would have been subject to the Islamic instruction.

Reports in the Assyrian International News Agency say that Nadarkhani never has been a Muslim in his adult life and has refused to renounce his Christian faith.

According to the AINA report, the court has demanded the pastor reject his Christian faith a fourth time. Nadarkhani refused.

Records show the exchange was this:

When asked to repent, Nadarkhani stated: "Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?"

"To the religion of your ancestors, Islam," the judge replied, according to the American Center for Law & Justice.

"I cannot," Naderkhani said.

Whitehead said Nadarkhani should be entitled to the same legal protections Iranian law supposedly gives to all its citizens.

"He didn't kill anybody; he just wants his kids to have some religious autonomy. The Iranian Constitution gives people religious freedom," Whitehead said.

Americans – and others around the world – should be "appalled," he said.

"Our job is to speak up. As a Christian I'm appalled, but as an American I'm appalled that our government would be silent when this type of thing is going on," Whitehead said.

"I'm appalled that more churches aren't speaking up and Christian organizations. Why are we so quiet? Why isn't Amnesty International screaming about this? Why does it take the Rutherford Institute?" Whitehead said.

"So by getting out the information out, hopefully we can stop this man from being executed. They're talking about Friday now which is tomorrow," Whitehead said.

WND reported weeks ago that the U.S. State Department was trying to intervene then.

The statement from department spokesman Victoria Nuland said, "While Iran's leaders hypocritically claim to promote tolerance, they continue to detain, imprison, harass and abuse those who simply wish to worship the faith of their choosing."

The statement said, "We are dismayed over reports that the Iranian courts are requiring Yousef Nadarkhani to recant his Christian faith or face the death penalty for apostasy – a charge based on his religious beliefs. If carried out, it would be the first execution for apostasy in Iran since 1990."

The department noted that Nadarkhani is "just one of the thousands who face persecution for their religious beliefs in Iran, including the seven leaders of the Baha'i community whose imprisonment was increased to 20 years for practicing their faith and hundreds of Sufis who have been flogged in public because of their beliefs."

The international Christian organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide had more details on the case.

Officials said the Iranian Supreme Court asked the lower court in Rasht to re-examine a few procedural flaws in the case, but gave local judges a free hand to determine whether Nadarkhani should be released, retried, or executed.

"Since the court in Rasht had based its original verdict on fatwas by such important religious figures as Ayatollah Khomeini, the 'father' of Iran's revolution in 1979; Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran; and Makarem Shirazi, currently the most influential religious leader in Iran, the Supreme Court may have been reluctant to overturn the verdict for fear of inviting controversy, even though there is no death sentence for apostasy in Iranian civil law," the organization reported.

CSW also noted that Article 23 of the Iranian constitution states no one should be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.

Nadarkhani is a leader in the evangelical Church of Iran denomination and was arrested in his home city of Rasht of Oct. 13, 2009, while trying to register his church. He originally was charged with protesting, but those charges later were upgraded to apostasy and evangelizing Muslims.