An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Pray For Our Brother In Christ!
New Fears for Iranian Pastor on Death Row Who Refuses to Renounce His Christian Faith
“As of today, we cannot confirm that Pastor Youcef is alive,” said executive director Jordan Sekulow. “With Iran now dominating international headlines because of its military actions, it’s clear Iran may have decided to move forward by issuing an execution order, knowing that the world’s attention is focused elsewhere right now. We also know that Iran’s top officials can reject the execution order and release Pastor Youcef if they so desire. We will keep the international pressure on Iran to free Pastor Youcef.”
Iranian pastor
Youcef Nadarkhani
has been sentenced
to death for apostasy.
(Photo: ACLJ)
In what it described as “an extremely dangerous turn of events,” the American Center for Law and Justice said Monday it had learned from contacts inside Iran that Youcef Nadarkhani, the Christian pastor on death row for “apostasy,” looks increasingly likely to be executed.
“Pastor Youcef’s case had been stalled due to increased international pressure and the Iranian court’s request that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, decide Pastor Youcef’s fate,” said ACLJ executive director Jordan Sekulow.
“Now, because Pastor Youcef has continually refused to give into the regime’s demands that he renounce his Christian faith, the likelihood that the Iranian regime will execute him increases by the day.”
Nadarkhani, a married father of two young children, was arrested in October 2009 and has been sentenced to hang for “apostasy.”
His death sentence was upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court last July, but three months later the case – which was making waves internationally – was referred to Khamenei. The supreme leader was expected to make a ruling on whether the pastor, who embraced Christianity at the age of 19, was an apostate under Islamic law (shari’a).
Heavenly Father, I come to you in prayer for Your child, Youcef Naderhani. Please watch over him and his family, give them Your guidance. Keep Your loving arms around them. I pray, oh Lord, that all your children will raise up their voices to You. Amen.
