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Blog/Latest News - 26th July 2011 - 5 Comments »

Supreme Court Says No Apostasy Execution if Pastor was Never Muslim and Repents

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Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

The Supreme Court of Qom Province issued an official verdict in the apostasy case of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, ruling that the lower criminal court and the appeals courts did not provide adequate background information as to whether or not Nadarkhani was ever actually a declared and practicing Muslim. In turn, the Supreme Court remanded the case to the Eleventh Branch of the Criminal Court of Gilan Province for a more rigorous factual investigation.

The verdict orders the lower court to talk with Nadarkhani’s neighbors, acquaintances, relatives, and Muslims that had known him before his adoption of Christianity to see if he was Muslim after reaching the age of maturity (i.e. 15-years-old).

The Supreme Court ruled that if Nadarkhani was a Muslim after the age of maturity then the lower court must find him guilty of apostasy and issue a death sentence. If Nadarkhani was not a Muslim after reaching the age of maturity, then he has the option to repent and renounce his Christianity. If he repents then will not be executed and apparently released. However, if does not repent he will be sentenced to death. The Supreme Court issued the verdict on 12 June 2011.

The Court also maintained that apostasy is a valid criminal charge in Iran, despite the fact that no written legal provision on the matter exists. The Supreme Court referred specifically to the scholarship of Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini as the source of law on apostasy.

Previously, family members and associates of Nadarkhani told the Campaign that officials from the Judiciary and the Ministry of Intelligence tried to force the pastor to repent and renounce his Christian conversion. So far, Nadarkhani has maintained that he has never done anything against Islam and will not renounce his faith. “Pastor Youcef has not budged,” said a close associate of his from Rasht.

Youcef Nadarkhani is a 34-year old pastor who was born to Muslim parents. He converted to Christianity at the age of 19. Before his arrest in October 2009, Nadarkhani led a congregation of about 400 Christians in Rasht. The congregation is part of a nationwide evangelical group called the Church of Iran, many of whose members have been arrested and prosecuted since 2009. On 23 August 2010, Nadarkhani’s apostasy death sentence was upheld by Branch Eleven of the Appeals Court of Gilan Province, and consequently appealed to the Supreme Court. Nadarkhani is currently being held in Rasht Prison.



5 Comments

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SALOMON PAREJA CARDONA
Jul 27, 2011 22:13

Que liberen al pastor, colocamos esta petición en la presencia de Nuestro Dios.

Alexander McRae
Aug 31, 2011 8:07

We reject completely any suggestion of any punishment whatsoever for Pastor Nadharkani. We take no comfort in this news from the Spreme Court of Qom Proivince, as we uphold that anyone should be able to change religion whenever they wish, with NO problems with any law. We say this on the basis of common-sense fairness! Christians in Australia are not charged with apostasy if they convert to Islam. In the Name of God and human mercy, we appeal to Iran to completely scrap these laws and allow unfettered freedom of religion. If one religion is true, the Creator will judge. We humans however are not God.

Alexander McRae
Aug 31, 2011 8:09

Please send urgent appeals to:

Leader of the Islamic Republic
Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei
The Office of the Supreme Leader
Islamic Republic Street – End of
Shahid Keshvar Doust Street
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: Via website:
http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/index.php?p=letter (English)
http://www.leader.ir/langs/fa/index.php?p=letter (Persian)

Head of the Qom Provincial Judiciary
Mr Hamzeh Khalili
Office of the Head of the Judiciary
PO Box 184-37195, Azadegan Square, Shahid Abedi Boulevard,
Qom, Islamic Republic of Iran
Email: In Persian and English, send via feedback form on the website: http://www.dadgostariqom.ir/tabid/85/Default.aspx

Contact source: Amnesty International, July 2011

patricia
Sep 28, 2011 15:05

El señor recompesara su vida.. todo esta en sus mamo..Dios es poderoso y puede hacer cosas sobre natural..

Miguel Ángel
Oct 15, 2011 1:55

Dios, nuestro señor dice ” Bienaventurados los perseguidos en mi nombre…”

Oh Señor Jesús, Dios nuestro, te ruego por la liberación de tu siervo Nadarkhani.

Tú lo puedes liberar para que siga ganando almas para ti.

En el nombre de Jesús.

Amen!!!

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