Nadarkhani: Re-trial or Not? Mixed Reports

Ok guys, there is a LOT of misinformation circulating about Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.
I saw a blog by CNN dated for 13th October 2011 whose blog title was misleading & claiming that Nadarkhani's Lawyer spoke to CNN directly:

 With pressure mounting, Iranian Supreme Court could rehear pastor’s case

"Mohammad Dadkah, Nadarkhani's lawyer, confirmed the Supreme Court's statement [re-trial]  in a Thursday conversation with CNN."

However, the American Center for Law & Justice says a re-trial is a LIE. This statement was put out by the ACLJ as of Friday October 14, 2011:

Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s attorney in Iran, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, who we have been working with closely on this case, has just confirmed to the ACLJ that there has been no retrial ordered by the Iranian Supreme Court.

As we have been explaining, the media’s reports about a “retrial” in this case mistakenly refer to a hearing that already occurred on September 25-28th, in which Pastor Youcef was ordered to recant his Christian faith or die. As you know, he responded, “I cannot.”

His attorney in Iran also confirmed that the court has requested that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei weigh in on Pastor Youcef’s death sentence. Dadkhah says that while the Ayatollah can delay providing an opinion as long as he wants, he believes the response will come within the next 20 days.

Dadkhah stressed that NOW is the best time in the last two years to put pressure on the Iranian regime (and especially the Ayatollah). He also said that it is important that the United Nations (U.N.), the Special Rapporteurs on Iran and freedom of conscience, and the Pope be pressured to call for Pastor Youcef’s release.

Eighty-nine Members of Congress just sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Clinton urging her to engage the U.N. and pressure Iran to free Pastor Youcef. The ACLJ, through our international affiliate the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), has also sent a letter directly to the U.N. urging direct action to engage Iran to save this Pastor’s life.

As Pastor Youcef’s attorney said, now is the time to engage. If you have not already done so, please join tens of thousands of Americans in signing ourpetition to pressure Iran for Pastor Youcef’s release, and continue to share his story on Facebook and Twitter.

Dadkhah also confirmed that he has appealed his own nine-year prison sentence for representing human rights cases, like Pastor Youcef’s. His appeal could takes months to be considered and Iranian authorities could pick him up and enforce that sentence at any time, leaving Pastor Youcef without legal representation in Iran.

Dadkhah further indicated to us that the Iranian regime is now threatening him for embarrassing Iran and the Iranian judicial system. At this point, he may no longer be able to speak freely to the American press. He is clearly weighing the cost of facing imprisonment, which leaves Youcef with no representation, and no longer asking for international pressure in statements to the American media.

We have been speaking out, asking for congressional letters, statements from the United Nations, and international pressure directly at the request of Dadkhah, Youcef’s attorney. The only reason this case has gone to the Ayatollah, is because of international pressure. The only reason that Iranian state media has been trying to back peddle away from the execution sentence is because of international pressure, and it is the only reason that Pastor Youcef is still alive. We must keep up the international pressure in order to save his life.

Since I know the ACLJ is working VERY closely with Pastor Youcef's Lawyer, I trust their information over CNN- who only recently started talking about the case about a week ago.

Most Recent Update on Iranian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani

If you're looking for the most recent updates, please keep checking back on the main page of my blog (click on "Adventures in Kuwait").  I post the most recent news as each day passes. You can also look to the right & see at least the 5 most recent blog posts.

The video above is the most recent update as of 12 October 2011.

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani: Final Verdict Delayed 10/10/11

Mon Oct 10 2011 14:48:45 GMT+0400 (Arabian Standard Time) Oman Time


Iran Court Refers Pastor's Case to Supreme Leader: Lawyer
AFB
Times of Oman


Iran: The court case of an Iranian pastor facing a possible death sentence for apostasy is being referred to Iran's supreme leader, the pastor's lawyer told AFP on Monday.


"The court has decided to ask the opinion of Mr (Ali) Khamenei," Iran's supreme leader, in the matter of pastor Yusef Nadarkhani, lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah said.
Ayatollah Khamenei [WikiLeaks: Ayatollah Khameni has terminal cancer, could die within months] has ultimate authority in the Islamic republic.


However the move to involve him in the case is unusual, and suggested that a final verdict in the case -- which has garnered international attention -- could be delayed. 


Nadarkhani's lawyer had previously been expecting a verdict any time from last Saturday.
Nadarkhani, a 32-year-old pastor of a small evangelical community called the Church of Iran, was arrested in October 2009 and condemned to death under Islamic sharia law for converting to Christianity when he was 19. 


Sharia law allows for such verdicts to be overturned if the convicted person "repents" and renounces his conversion. After his conviction was upheld by an appeals court in Gilan province in September 2010, Nadarkhani turned to the supreme court. In July, the supreme court overturned the death sentence and sent the case back to the court in his hometown of Rasht, in Gilan province.


Several Western countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany and France, have condemned the death sentence against Nadarkhani and called for his release.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has also urged Iran to free Nadarkhani and "respect its international human rights commitments."


On September 30, Gilan's deputy governor general said Nadarkhani should not face the death penalty for apostasy, but also referred for the first time to "security crimes" allegedly committed by the pastor whom he labelled a "Zionist". But Dadkhah said the only charge stated in the case was related to apostasy. 




"The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes."

Proverbs 21:1

American Bipartisan Support for Yousef Nadarkhani

Major Bipartisan Support in Congress for Pastor Youcef

By
Jordan Sekulow

11:56 AMOct. 7, 2011

There is a major development today in the fight to put pressure on Iran for Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s release. Congressmen Joe Pitts (PA-16) and Heath Shuler (NC-11) are leading a bipartisan effort to save Pastor Youcef. They are sending a letter to Secretary of State Clinton calling on her to “use all the powers at your disposal” for “swift engagement with the international community to advocate for his release.”

This letter is still gaining signatures from Members of Congress. Currently, thirty-nine Members of Congress, including thirteen Democrats, have signed on to this letter, and that number continues to grow by the hour. Of critical importance, one of the early signatories for this letter is Congressman Keith Ellison (MN-5) – the first Muslim elected to Congress.

An early draft of the letter provided to the ACLJ states:

We implore you to raise your voice at this critical juncture on behalf of Pastor Nadarkhani. We must not stand by while the Iranian Regime executes a man who has committed no crime.

We will continue to update you as Congressional support for this important letter grows. The following is the most current list of Members of Congress who have signed on to this letter.  Representatives:

• Joe Pitts (PA-16)
• Heath Shuler (NC-11)
• Alcee Hastings (FL-23)
• Sue Myrick (NC-9)
• Chris Smith (NJ-4)
• Frank Wolf (VA-10)
• Jim McGovern (MA-3)
• Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1)
• Doug Lamborn (CO-5)
• Joe Crowley (NY-7)
• Robert Aderholt (AL-4)
• Jim Moran (VA-8)
• Keith Ellison (MN-5)
• John Duncan (TN-2)
• Rob Bishop (UT-1)
• Eni Faleomavaega (American Samoa)
• Tim Huelskamp (KS-1)
• Jeff Duncan (SC-3)
• Dennis Ross (FL-12)
• Steve King (IA-5)
• Ann Marie Buerkle (NY-25)
• Randy Hultgren (IL-14)
• Renee Ellmers (SC-2)
• Mike Kelly (PA-3)
• John Culberson (TX-7)
• Louie Gohmert (TX-1)
• John R. Carter (TX-31)
• James Lankford (OK-5)
• John Conyers (MI-14)
• Steve Pearce (NM-2)
• Bill Posey (FL-15)
• Tim Walberg (MI-7)
• Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18)
• Julia Carson (IN-7)
• John Olver (MA-1)
• Donald Manzullo (IL-16)
• Jean Schmidt (OH-2)
• Steve Cohen (TN-9)
• Thaddeus McCotter (MI-11)

Please join these Members of Congress in calling for Secretary of State Clinton to put pressure on Iran to release Pastor Youcef by signing our critical petition, and contacting your Member of Congress to urge them to sign on to the Pitts/Shuler letter

Nadarkhani: Final Verdict Monday October 10, 2011

Pastor Nadarkhani: Awaiting the final verdict

Pastor Nadarkhani’s trial ended on 28 September, and sources close to Christian Solidarity Worldwide indicate that the judges should issue their final ruling on and announce a timeframe for execution within one week.  However, others fear that the death sentence could be implemented without any prior announcement, as has occurred in the past in Iran. 

CSW is continuing to advocate on behalf of Pastor Nadarkhani - speaking up, raising awareness among the international community and media, and urging key international players to intervene on his behalf .

Continued international vigilance and pressure is vital: the life of this man is still very much in the balance.

Global response to Nadarkhani’s case

CSW has been advocating for urgent international action to prevent the pastor’s execution. As the momentum has grown, statements condemning the sentence have been issued by various international politicians, including UK Foreign Secretary William Hague,; US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,; President Obama’s press secretary; the governments of France, Canada and Uruguay, and EU Representative for Foreign Affairs Baroness Ashton.

Prominent national and international media outlets have featured the case, including: The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, New Statesman, The Washington Post, Voice of America, SkyNews, ITN, Business Week, CNN and the BBC.

Within one week CSW’s campaign has mobilised over 40,000 activists through social media and the CSW website. The Facebook page group in support of Pastor Nadarkhani counts 11,400 international members. Thousands of people worldwide are praying and protesting locally.

Pastor Nadarkhani's case: Timeline

Oct 2011 - A final written verdict by the court is expected on Monday 10 October. As we wait for the formal verdict to come through, Pastor Nadarkhani’s life is in the balance. No conclusions should be drawn on this case until this verdict is received.

Sept 2011 - Pastor Nadarkhani was put on trial again from 25 to 28 September. In a session on 25 September, the court in Rasht ruled that  the pastor had not practiced Islam as an adult, but still upheld the charge of apostasy because of the his Muslim ancestry.  From 26- 28 September he appeared in court three times, and was asked each day to renounce his faith in order to secure an annulment of the apostasy charge and a lifting of the death sentence.  He refused each time.  On 28 September, Pastor Nadarkhani’ lawyer, Mr Mohammed Ali Dadkah, presented the final defense.

The conviction and sentence are illegal under Iranian law, since the penal code does not specify death for apostasy.  They also violate article 23 of the Iranian Constitution, which states that no-one should be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief. Moreover, the conviction and sentence are in violation of international covenants to which Iran is signatory, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees freedom of religion and the right to change one’s religion.

July 2011 – A written verdict was received by Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyer; however, it was dated June 2011.  Contradicting a verbal verdict received earlier, the written verdict upheld the death sentence , but included a provision for its annulment if Pastor Nadarkhani renounced his faith. The Supreme Court also asked the court in Rasht to re-examine whether or not Pastor Nadarkhani had been practicing Islam as an adult prior to  adopting Christianity.

June 2011 - The appeal was heard by the Supreme Court of Iran and verbal notification of a lifting of the death sentence was given.

December 2010: Nadarkhani’s lawyer filed an appeal.

November 2010: the written verdict from the September trial was received by Pastor Nadarkhani’s legal team, confirming the verbal notification of a death sentence for apostasy,

Sept 2010 - Pastor Nadarkhani was tried and found guilty of apostasy (abandoning Islam) by the Assize court of Gilan province in Rasht, and received verbal notification of a  death sentence, despite the fact that death for apostasy is not codified in the Iranian Penal Code. The court used a loophole in Iran’s constitution, basing their verdict on fatwas (religious rulings) by Grand Ayatollah Khomeini, the “father” of the Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, currently the most influential religious leader in the country

Oct 2009 - Pastor Nadarkhani was arrested, soon after questioning of the Muslim monopoly of the religious instruction for children of Iran, which he felt was unconstitutional..

Iranian Officials Interview Pastor Nadarkhani
By Michael Ireland

Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service


RASHT, IRAN (ANS) -- Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been tried and convicted of apostasy, but who is facing new charges by Iranian authorities, has been interviewed by visiting government officials from the capital, Tehran.


According to Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries (www.presenttruthmn.com): “Today, Wednesday, October 5th, a group of officials from Tehran interviewed Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani about the behavior of the judges and the charges filed against him.

“It seems like a positive development, however, in Iran only the facts must be considered. Some observers are concerned that they could manipulate his words in order to prove their false charges against him,” DeMars told ANS in an e-mail update.

DeMars said: “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.”


In his update, DeMars explained that: “Gilan province, Chief Justice, Mohammad-Javad Heshmati, was quoted by Iran Press TV as saying, ‘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.’


“Now, Iran’s judiciary is on record telling a blatant lie,” DeMars stated.

According to observers, the statements by Deputy Governor Ali Rezvani, regarding the charges of “Zionism” and crimes against national security, demonstrate that there is pressure to bypass the legal system and execute him.

“Ali Rezvani is a hardliner and has shown that he is an enemy of Christians. According to some, Mr. Rezvani is the individual who pressured the judiciary to bring these charges against brother Youcef,” DeMars said.

He added: “We ask that you pray for both of these officials. Pray that God touches their hearts and opens their hearts and minds to the Gospel and the forgiveness offered in Jesus Christ. Of course, pray for brother Youcef, his wife Tina, and sons Daniel and Joel.”

Over 50,000 people have already emailed the Iranian embassies around the world – add YOUR VOICE to theirs and support Pastor Nadarkhani.

UPDATE: Sign the Petition to Save Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani

UPDATE AS OF 13 OCTOBER 2011

Once again, in the face of the immense international pressure that you have helped place on Iran, its government is spreading more lies in an attempt to divert media attention away from Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s death sentence.


Now, a state-funded news agency is reporting that Pastor Nadarkhani’s conviction has been overturned by the Iranian Supreme Court for a new trial. However, this is a blatant lie – it is regurgitating old information as if it were new news.


What’s worse is that the mainstream media has begun to run these reports as fact. It is critical that we keep the pressure on Iran, as Pastor Youcef’s fate remains in the hands of the Ayatollah Khamenei – and ultimately, in God’s hands.


Please continue to sign our petition to pressure Iran for Pastor Youcef’s unconditional release.

We have sent this petition with over 160,000 signatures to Secretary of State Clinton, but we also made it clear that thousands of people are continuing to stand in support of her direct intervention with the Iranian government on behalf of Pastor Youcef.


Please continue to share this petition on Facebook and forward our email updates to prevent Iran from continuing to spread lies and confusion.


Here is what we know has really happened. This past June was the last time Pastor Youcef’s case was before the Supreme Court, which found that “further investigat[ion]” was needed to determine if Pastor Youcef was a Muslim before converting to Christianity. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court, stating that “if it can be proved that he was a practicing Muslim as an adult and has not repented, the execution will be carried out.”


That hearing already occurred late last month, where the judges found that Youcef was a Muslim because his parents where Muslims; and he was ordered to recant or die – to which he replied, “I cannot.” As we await a written verdict from this court, the court has requested the opinion of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.


Make no mistake; Pastor Youcef’s case is in the Ayatollah’s hands. Do not let yourself be duped like the mainstream media has been by Iran’s misinformation. Please read and share my latest article for the Washington Post, “Clearing up the facts on Pastor Nadarkhani’s fate,” where I clearly explain Iran’s latest attempt to divert international attention from this human rights’ abuse.


Earlier this week, the Justice Department revealed that Iran orchestrated a plot to assassinate foreign dignitaries on U.S. soil and bomb the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. This is the same Iranian government that continues to spread lies about Pastor Youcef.


Now is the time to turn up the pressure on Iran to release Pastor Youcef. Please make sure that Iran is held accountable for their actions by using the “Like” buttons in this email to share this article on Facebook and to prevent Iran’s lies from continuing to spread.


Thank you for your continued support for Pastor Youcef. Your voice is having a tremendous impact on the unrelenting effort to save his life.



Jordan Sekulow
ACLJ Executive Director
jsekulow@action.aclj.org

Praise God! Pastor Youcef is No Longer on Death Row!

The following is both great news yet still very saddening. But right now, I'd like to give praise where it is due.

Abba Father, our merciful God...my Daddy....You are so wonderful! Daddy I don't always understand your ways, but I do understand that according to Your word, your thoughts are higher than mine & your ways higher than my ways. Father you warned us that persecution for our faith in your beloved Son was going to happen. And it has. For some, you have willed them to be martyrs, not renouncing their faith in You even though it took their life. But for others you have allowed them to survive through persecution. In death & in life, it is ALL for YOUR glory! Daddy thank you for granting favor on your servant Youcef by having the Supreme Court overturn his death sentence. But Lord now they want him to renounce his "conversion" to living a life for YOU! God I pray that you would continue to protect him as he will NOT be renouncing your awesomeness, your love, your mercy, your longsuffering, your forgiveness, your SALVATION IN WHICH YOU SAVED HIM FROM HIS SINS & THE WRATH OF A HOLY GOD. Father I pray that every single person involved from his arrest to the lower court who is against Youcef- SAVE THEM JESUS! Reveal yourself to every single one of them so that they may come to know the grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord! Lord we pray that you BLESS 'our' enemies. Those enemies are those who come against your Body. We pray for their salvation. I lift up Youcef's wife & children who have been going through a roller coaster of emotions & faith. Strengthen them, strengthen your people in Iran who are being increasingly oppressed just as You have said would happen. Lord give them wisdom on what to say, do, how to behave around those who would turn their backs on them in an instant. We serve the only God who is greater than the strongest & smartest scholar, judge, lawyer, ruler......YOU have the say-so. I ask humbly that you would continue to work in protection & favor over Youcef, his family, his lawyer & his family, & all the believers in Iran. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in the precious name that is above every name, Jesus.

Via The Christian Post

An Iranian pastor who was handed the death sentence for apostasy is no longer on death row, his lawyer said Sunday.

• 
  (Photo: ACLJ)
  Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani of the Church of Iran denomination is pictured here.

Related

• 5 Iranian Christians to Face Trial for Blasphemy
• Iran's High Court Upholds Death Sentence for Pastor
• Report: 75 Percent of Religious Persecution Is Against Christians
• Situation 'Dire' for Christians in Iran
• Anti-Christian Speeches in Iran Led to Crackdown, Sources Say
• Iraq Jumps 9 Spots in World's Worst Persecutors List
• Tens of Thousands of Muslims Coming to Christ, Says Iranian Ministry Leader

Iran’s Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani of the northern city of Rasht, attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah told Agence France-Presse. Just days earlier, human rights groups had reported that the Supreme Court had found Nadarkhani guilty of apostasy and upheld the death penalty ruling by a lower court.

Nadarkhani, who was arrested in October 2009, converted from Islam to Christianity in his late teens. The now 32-year-old evangelical house church pastor was first arrested for protesting against Christian children being forced to participate in Muslim religiouseducation in school. Then last year he was sentenced to death for apostasy.

“The Supreme Court has annulled the death sentence and sent the case back to the court in Rasht (his hometown), asking the accused to repent,” said attorney Dadkhah.

“Repent” in the eyes of Islamic sharia law means Pastor Nadarkhani should renounce his conversion.

Pastor Nadarkhani’s lawyer said he has only heard the Supreme Court ruling read to him over the phone and he needs to go to Rasht to read it for himself. Lawyer Dadkhah is himself facing 9 years in prison, which a Tehran court handed him on Sunday for “actions and propaganda against the Islamic regime,” according to AFP. He is also barred from practicing law for ten years.

Dadkhah thinks the sentence is a result of his work with the Center for the Defense of Human Rights and for doing interviews with foreign media. He has 20 days to file an appeal.

The situation of the evangelical church is said to be “dire” in Iran, with the government intensifying its crackdown on Christian leaders.

On January 4, the governor general of Tehran, Morteza Tamadon, reportedly declared that the “final blow towards [Christians] is imminent” and denounced evangelical churches as “false, deviant and corrupt sects.”

Mansour Borji, a pastor of the Iranian Church in London, told the European Parliament’s Iran Delegation in February that there were 202 Christians known to have been arrested and detained since June 2010.

And in 2009, Iranian authorities ordered the country’s largest church that gives public services to stop its Friday prayer gatherings or risk being shut down completely. Several other churches were also victims of the government’s aggressive campaign against the church.

Iran's constitution states that Islam is the official state religion and provides that Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians are recognized as "protected" religious minorities. Despite the protected status, in practice non-Shia Muslims face discrimination and the government severely restricts freedom of religion, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2009 International Religious Freedom Report.