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Religious Freedom in Iran
Wednesday, September 28, 2011, 1:00 PM

As Wesley Smith notes below, Iranian Christian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has refused to recant his faith.  Absent any new action on the part of the Iranian regime, this paves the way for death by hanging.  I’ve recently raised questions about the Obama Administration’s interest in promoting international religious liberty.  Here’s an opportunity for the President or his Secretary of State to state forthrightly where the United States stands.  Speaker of the House John Boehner has been clear enough:

Religious freedom is a universal human right. The reports that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani will be sentenced to death by the Iranian government unless he disavows his Christian faith are distressing for people of every country and creed. 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 Yousef Nadarkhani’s life, and grant him a full and unconditional release.

Yet when I search the White House and State Department websites, I can’t find anything about this case. Perhaps they’re working behind the scenes for his release.  One can only pray that’s the case.

I also join Wesley Smith in wondering where the fashionable protestors against U.S. executions are in this case.

UPDATE:  See David Nickol’s comment below.  The State Department issued a statement back in July.  Also, in response to questions about petitions, I suggest that you google the words ”Nadarkhani” and “petition.”

 

8 Comments

    toddes
    September 28th, 2011 | 1:26 pm

    How about a statement from Speaker of the House Boehner:

    http://boehner.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=262084

    toddes
    September 28th, 2011 | 1:27 pm

    Sorry. Skipped over the majority of the article to the end. Ignore me.

    David Nickol
    September 28th, 2011 | 1:47 pm

    I did find this:

    Recently [July 13, 2011] the U.S. State Department issued the following remarks: “We are dismayed over reports that the Iranian courts are requiring Yousef Nadarkhani to recant his 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. He is just one of thousands who face persecution for their religious beliefs in Iran, including the seven leaders of the Baha’i community whose imprisonment was increased to twenty years for practicing their faith and hundreds of Sufis who have been flogged in public because of their beliefs.”

    Ray Ingles
    September 28th, 2011 | 2:34 pm

    Is there any organization accepting petition signatures or other support in putting pressure on Iran to free him? How can I help?

    Joe McFaul
    September 28th, 2011 | 3:12 pm

    Why stop there:

    http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/311777

    and contrary to the implications, Amnesty International–the same group that opposes capital punishment in the US–is on the case:

    http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-yousef-nadarkhani.html

    Iranian Pastor Still Threatened With Martyrdom For Refusing to Deny Christ » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog
    September 29th, 2011 | 10:52 am

    [...] issued a brief statement, but President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have remained silent, but for one statement back in July.  One hopes they are working feverishly behind the scenes, but I am not confident.  I just did a [...]

    Chris Balducci
    September 29th, 2011 | 11:07 am

    There is an Armenian Christian community that has been in Iran for ages. I guess they survive because they don’t evangelize. God bless.

    VBOO2
    September 29th, 2011 | 11:55 am

    The ACLJ has a petition started.

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