IRAN TELLS CHRISTIAN PASTOR: RECANT OR FACE EXECUT
Jul 22, 2011 9:24:11 GMT -5
Post by baydoll on Jul 22, 2011 9:24:11 GMT -5
IRAN TELLS CHRISTIAN PASTOR: RECANT OR FACE EXECUTION
(Friday Church News Notes, July 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)
- The following is excerpted from the Baptist Press, July 15, 2011:
“Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani faces execution unless he renounces his faith in Christ, a written verdict from the country’s supreme court has confirmed. Baptist Press reported July 8 that Christians in Iran were challenging news reports that Nadarkhani’s death penalty had been annulled. The Christian Solidarity Worldwide human rights organization reported July 14 that the court’s written verdict had been released, confirming that Nadarkhani faces execution unless he renounces his faith.
The original verdict on charges of apostasy was based on ‘fatwas’ by Iran's most powerful religious leaders--Ayatollahs Khomeini, Khamenei and Makarem Shirazi --meaning the Supreme Court may have been reluctant to overturn the verdict for fear of inviting controversy, CSW advocacy director Andrew Johnston said in a press statement. ... Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 while attempting to register his church.
His arrest is believed to have been due to his questioning of the Muslim monopoly on the religious instruction of children in Iran, according to news reports. He initially was charged with protesting; however, the charges against him were later changed to apostasy and evangelizing Muslims.”
(Friday Church News Notes, July 22, 2011, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)
- The following is excerpted from the Baptist Press, July 15, 2011:
“Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani faces execution unless he renounces his faith in Christ, a written verdict from the country’s supreme court has confirmed. Baptist Press reported July 8 that Christians in Iran were challenging news reports that Nadarkhani’s death penalty had been annulled. The Christian Solidarity Worldwide human rights organization reported July 14 that the court’s written verdict had been released, confirming that Nadarkhani faces execution unless he renounces his faith.
The original verdict on charges of apostasy was based on ‘fatwas’ by Iran's most powerful religious leaders--Ayatollahs Khomeini, Khamenei and Makarem Shirazi --meaning the Supreme Court may have been reluctant to overturn the verdict for fear of inviting controversy, CSW advocacy director Andrew Johnston said in a press statement. ... Nadarkhani was arrested in October 2009 while attempting to register his church.
His arrest is believed to have been due to his questioning of the Muslim monopoly on the religious instruction of children in Iran, according to news reports. He initially was charged with protesting; however, the charges against him were later changed to apostasy and evangelizing Muslims.”
