Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani faces death for apostasy in Iran...

I wrote the other day about Troy Davis, a man who faced the death penalty in America. Hours after I wrote it, he was killed. I maintain it was an appalling and brutal act, whether he was innocent or guilty. But in the coming days, another man will probably be executed. He is definitely guilty of the crime of which he is accused. He admits it. But the fact that it is a crime at all would, if it were not so tragic, be almost funny.

Youcef Nadarkhani, a Christian pastor in Iran, stands accused of apostasy. His "crime" – forgive the sarcastic quotes – is having once been Muslim, but now being Christian: from turning from one monotheistic Abrahamic religion which recognises Jesus Christ as a holy figure, to another monotheistic Abrahamic religion which recognises Jesus Christ as a holy figure. He has been asked three times to recant his beliefs, but has refused. If he refuses a fourth time, he could be executed at any time; he will be asked again today, and could die tomorrow.

This is, of course, against international law, for what little that means. More surprisingly, it is also apparently against Iranian law: Pastor Nadarkhani was not, it seems, a practising Muslim before he converted to Christianity, so there is no apostasy. One Iranian court ruled that this meant he was innocent; the Supreme Court, however, decided that because he has Muslim ancestry, he remains guilty. On such utterly fatuous threads a man's life hangs. Full story...

Don't miss:
  1. Two women in Iran risk death for converting to Christianity...
  2. Five Christians to face trial for blasphemy in Iran...
  3. Iran hangs man who claimed to be God...
  4. Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi jailed for 11 years... 
  5. Malaysian 'teapot cult' woman can't leave Islam to avoid jail...  
  6. Kidnapped Christian girl in Sudan escapes after being raped and beaten...
  7. Hindu couple in India harassed for adopting Muslim girl...
  8. Christians face fresh attacks in Egypt...

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