Update 12 October 2011

There have been developments in Iran concerning pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, whose death sentence for apostasy (i.e. leaving Islam) was upheld in court hearings in late September.

First, his lawyer has been informed that the case is being referred to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Second, the Supreme Court has announced today (11th October) that it would be willing to consider a further appeal. These are unusual developments in Iran’s legal system, and are likely to further delay the issuing of a written verdict following the most recent hearing.

There is continuing uncertainty about the case. The Iranian authorities have repeatedly suggested that a death sentence has not been passed. This is despite the fact that written verdicts issued by the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province in September 2010 and the Supreme Court in July 2011 explicitly stated that the charge was apostasy and the sentence death. In July, the Supreme Court also ordered the original tribunal to clarify whether or not Yousef was ever a practicing Muslim as an adult, and to give him further opportunity to recant his faith in Jesus. He refused to do so during the September hearings.

Iranian Christians rejoice that Yousef’s life has been spared thus far and thank us for our prayers. They request our continued intercession that:

a.   Yousef’s death sentence will be revoked and his conviction overturned

b.   Yousef, his wife, Fatemeh, and their two sons will know the comfort, presence and hope of Jesus, and that the family will be reunited soon

c.   Christians throughout Iran will not be intimidated but will know the Lord’s enabling and guidance

d.   All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him

Update: 10 October 2011

CIRCULATION CODE 3. OPEN.   May be circulated to general mailing lists, outside organizations, and quoted from freely in reports citing “Middle East Concern” as the source of the information.

Greetings in the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace

Last week we requested further intercession for an Iranian pastor, Yousef Nadarkhani, whose death sentence for apostasy (i.e. leaving Islam) was upheld in court hearings last week. He refused to recant his faith in Jesus during the hearings.

Written confirmation of the verdict has yet to be given, and pastor Yousef remains imprisoned. There is continuing uncertainty about his case.

Widespread international attention to Yousef’s situation has led to various statements being made by the Iranian authorities, some of which deny that he has been convicted of apostasy, despite the previous written verdicts of the Provincial and Supreme Courts being very clear that this was the case. Some have claimed that Yousef is being charged with other serious crimes.

Some analysts are cautiously optimistic that the delays and denials may indicate that the Iranian authorities could be prepared to withhold or withdraw the death sentence. Yousef’s lawyer has expressed such hopefulness. Others point out that the false charges some officials have referred to could be used to justify a death sentence on grounds other than apostasy.

A group of prominent Iranian intellectuals and activists has issued a statement in support of Yousef, stating, “We hope that in tomorrow’s Iran, members of all religions and faiths will be able to live in mutual respect while enjoying equal rights and a peaceful life.”

Iranian human rights organisations report that there have been at least 400 judicial executions of criminals in Iran so far in 2011, with arbitrary procedures applied in many of these cases.

Recall that Yousef is a pastor within the Full Gospel ‘Church of Iran’ denomination in the northern city of Rasht. He has been detained in prison since October 2009. Yousef was convicted and sentenced to death for apostasy in September 2010 by the Revolutionary Tribunal of Gilan Province. Upon appeal, the Supreme Court upheld the verdict but instructed the Tribunal to offer further opportunity for Yousef to recant his faith, and to review some aspects of the case. The latest Tribunal hearing took place over four days, from 25th to 28th September. Yousef and his wife, Fatemeh, have two sons, aged 9 and 7.

Iranian Christians rejoice that Yousef’s life has been spared thus far and thank us for our prayers. They request our continued intercession that:

a.   Yousef’s death sentence will be revoked and his conviction overturned

b.   Yousef will remain firm in his faith and know the presence and peace of Jesus each day

c.   His wife, Fatemeh, and their two sons will know the comfort and hope of Jesus, and that the family will be reunited soon

d.   Christians throughout Iran will not be intimidated but will know the Lord’s enabling and guidance

e.   Calls for greater acceptance of religious minorities and those who choose to follow a faith other than Islam will be heeded

f.   All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him

~~~

By Elizabeth Kendal

As was reported in RLPB 127 (28 Sep 2011) the trial court has ruled that
whilst Youcef Nadarkhani was not a practising Muslim before his conversion
to Christianity, he is an apostate because of his Muslim ancestry. As
mandated by the Supreme Court, Pastor Nadarkhani was brought before the
trial court on 25, 26, 27 & 28 September and provided with a daily
opportunity to renounce Christ and return to Islam. Those who maintain
that this blatant disregard for religious liberty is contrary to Islam are
wrong. Some schools of Islamic jurisprudence maintain that three
opportunities should be provided on the grounds of Sura 4:137. Other
schools maintain that no opportunity should be given on the grounds of
Sura 2:217 that deems ‘fitna’ (anything that shakes the faith of a Muslim)
is worse than killing. Also the Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) is very
clear: ‘He who changes his [Islamic] religion, kill him.’ This is about
Islam and politics: sanity has really nothing to do with it. Meanwhile,
standing firm in his faith, Youcef Nadarkhani has refused each opportunity
to renounce Christ and return to Islam.

The case has caused an outcry in the West — not ‘internationally’, as is
widely reported — with Western leaders decrying the situation as
appalling and demanding Pastor Nadarkhani’s immediate release. But, it
must be noted, no such outcry is emerging from the Muslim world or from
the regimes behind emerging powers such as China or Russia, or from the
UN. Furthermore, as noted in RLPB 126 (21 Sep), Iran is working hard to
exploit the Arab uprisings with the aim of drawing Sunni Arab Islamists
into the Iranian (political) axis. As Islam rises and Western leverage and
influence declines, the Iranian regime may decide that a stand for Islam
in defiance of the West can only profit them.

Now that the court has confirmed Nadarkhani is an apostate and sentenced
him to death, the regime has three options. It may: (1) defiantly execute
Pastor Nadarkhani for apostasy, making a stand for Islam in defiance of
the ‘colonialist’ and ‘Christian’ West; (2) condemn Nadarkhani’s apostasy,
confirm his death sentence and then release him in a very public
‘humanitarian’ gesture before making sure he is quietly eliminated by the
secret services. This is exactly what Iran did in 1994 in the case of
Pastor Mehdi Dibaj. The Church will get the message, even if the Western
political and journalistic elite do not. Or it may (3) change the charge
to one that otherwise discredits the accused and evokes revulsion (such as
rape), and for good measure throw in a charge that, according to the
constitution, is punishable by death or life imprisonment (such as
treason).

Presently it appears Iran is considering using strategy (3): the false
charge — used against Christianity from its earliest days. Today, all
over the non-free world, the false charge remains the most common means of
removing ‘problematic’ Christians. Christians currently languish in
prisons in China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and
elsewhere after being falsely charged and slandered as drug traffickers,
swindlers, rapists, blasphemers and threats to national security. The West
needs to talk to Russia, Iran’s Orthodox ally, to ensure that if any harm
comes to Nadarkhani severe sanctions will make it costly for Iran. The
Iranian regime will only execute Nadarkhani if they believe that in doing
so they stand to gain more than they would lose. If Pastor Nadarkhani were
executed or assassinated, it would indicate that the Iranian Church is
facing a whole new level of defiant, politically motivated, unrestrained
persecution by the regime.

Further to all this, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that on 14
September eleven Iranian Christians who had previously fled Iran received
emailed threats from a group calling itself ‘The Unknown Soldiers of the
Hidden Imam [the Mahdi: the Shi’ite Messiah]’. The letter — presumed to
be from the Iranian secret police — demanded that the Christians repent
and return to Islam, warning that if they refuse they will be killed. The
threats are being taken very seriously.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY —

* that God will redeem the suffering of Iran’s Church, so that this
persecution will actually have the opposite effect to what is intended.
‘For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the
LORD as the waters cover the sea.’ (Habakkuk 2:14 ESV)

Lord, have mercy on Iran. Awaken its people to the truth: for the sake of
the Church; for the sake of multitudes who are lost; and that God might be
glorified throughout the world.

* that God will fill Youcef Nadarkhani, his family and church with a
powerful outpouring of his Holy Spirit, that they will boldly exercise
faith, know his peace, display his grace and reveal his majesty.

~~~~

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

———————————————————–

From 25-28 September Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani resisted four opportunities
to renounce Christ before an Iranian court and return to Islam. He
therefore stands condemned as an unrepentant apostate sentenced to death.
Due to the outcry emanating from the West, Iran is now considering
altering the charge to rape and treason so they can maintain that nobody
is being executed for religious belief. The Iranian regime will execute
Pastor Nadarkhani only if they believe that would gain them more than they
will lose: influence in the Islamic world versus sanctions. Furthermore
eleven Iranian Christian refugees living abroad have received letters,
presumably from the Iranian secret police, threatening them with death if
they do not repent and return to Islam. Please pray for the Nadarkhani
family and for the Church in Iran.

——————–

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>.

Previous RLPBs may be viewed at <http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com/>.

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious
Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international
religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.