So many people in the United States take freedom of religion for granted. Reading about this Christian in Iran, persecuted for his beliefs, is chilling. I hope all Christians who learn of his situation will pray for him and his family.
The Iranian supreme court has annulled the death sentence for Yousef Nadarkhani, a 35 year old Christian who has been in custody almost two years and was given a death sentence for converting to Christianity from Islam.
Nadarkhani was arrested after he protested a government policy requiring children, including his two sons, to study the Quran in school. Nadarkhani told school officials that the Iranian constitution allows for freedom of religious practice. After his protest, secret police called him before a political tribunal and arrested him. He was charged with apostasy and evangelism of Muslims and was sentenced to death by hanging.
The supreme court sent the case back to the lower court after the annulment, asking Nadarkhani to repent. It is unknown if the death sentence will be reinstated if he does not.
Nadarkhani’s attorney, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, has also been sentenced to nine years in prison and banned from practicing law for ten years because of his “actions and propaganda against the Islamic regime.” Dadkhah was also criticized for giving interviews to foreign radio stations.
Read more at the Iranian Christian News Agency: http://mohabatnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2286:iran-annuls-death-term-for-yousef-nadarkhani&catid=36:iranian-christians&Itemid=279
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