Waiting for death: Pastor Nadarkhani pictured with his boys before his arrest.
Christianity has been gaining ground in unlikely places, but not without some steep prices. This 34-year old man, Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani of the Church of Iran, a husband and father of two lovely boys, is awaiting execution in an Iranian prison, after he was convicted of apostasy in an Iranian court in 2010. Interesting fact is that death for apostasy is not codified in the Iranian Penal Code. The court somehow exploited a loophole to impose the death sentence. He has spent over 1000 days in prison and has had three opportunities to renounce Christianity or face death. He refused each time. He next appears in court on September 8, but could be executed before then.
This guy does not deserve to die. He has not hurt anyone. His wife does not deserve to be a widow and his lovely boys do not deserve to be fatherless. The U.S. State Department issued a statement last Monday demanding that Tehran immediately release this man. Remember him in your prayer and if you have the email of the Iranian ambassador, send him a line to lend his voice to the campaign to set this man free. It’s the 21st century.
