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821 Days: Youcef Languishing While Iran Lies

By 

Anna Sekulow

|
January 11, 2012

2 min read

Middle East

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Iranian judges promised that by mid-December, if Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, did not respond to their court’s request for comment, they would publish a written decision on the apostasy charges made against Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Neither the court nor the Supreme Leader has issued anything, leaving the Pastor languishing in an Iranian prison – a violation of Iranian and international law.

Pastor Youcef is still alive because you spoke out, putting pressure on Iran. As the ACLJ continues to fight for justice, never forget what this brave Christian has endured for the sole reason that he refuses to renounce his faith.

These shocking statistics speak for themselves:

  • 821: the number of days an innocent man sits in jail. Pastor Youcef, convicted of apostasy, is spending his life in prison, waiting on the empty promises of Iran’s judiciary to determine his fate.

  • 2376: the number of hours Iran has been in violation of its own law that requires the court issue its decision. Iranian law requires a court issue its decision within a week of any hearing.

  • 672: the number of hours Pastor Youcef has sat in jail since the Iranian court’s self-imposed deadline to issue its decision expired. The Court of Gilan Section 11 said that it would issue its decision by mid-December if it did not receive the advice it sought from the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

  • 425: the number of days execution by hanging has loomed over Pastor Youcef.

  • 0: the number of days, hours, or minutes international law permits detaining an individual for his/her religious beliefs. Iran promised to uphold its obligations under such international law.

Enough is enough. It’s time for the Iranian court to issue a written decision. The ACLJ will continue to fight for Pastor Nadarkhani, but in order to do that we need you to continue to speak out. You can spread the word right now by simply sharing this post on your Facebook page and with your Twitter followers. We ask that you keep Pastor Nadarkhani in your prayers and in the minds of your friends and family.

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