Saving Christian Pastor, Your Voice is Being Heard

As Jordan has said, last week almost no one had heard about Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who faces execution for being a Christian in Iran, but now – in large part due to your efforts – Pastor Youcef’s story is being told. His case has been broadcast throughout major international media, and American leaders have taken aggressive steps to put pressure on Iran to release Pastor Youcef.

Speaker of the House John Boehner said Pastor Youcef’s situation is “distressing for people of every country and creed.” Governor Mitt Romney called Iran's actions an "outrage against humanity," and Governor Rick Perry called on the United Nations to "work toward securing the release of Pastor Nadarkhani." The White House condemned Iran’s actions and called “upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani.” The entire list of U.S. leaders, including over a dozen Members of Congress, who are taking a stand on behalf of Pastor Youcef can be found here.

Fox News has reported on the increased danger that Pastor Youcef faces:

New, conflicting reports out of Iran raise further concerns about the fate of a pastor being persecuted for his Christian beliefs.

Iranian state-funded Press TV reported in an article published online Wednesday that Youcef Nadarkhani is now considered a security threat and is accused of running a brothel. . . .

A document obtained by rights group American Center for Law and Justice and provided to FoxNews.com shows that apostasy is still the only charge against him, not the rape or security violations he is now said to face.

"Now that we have captured the full attention of the Iranian regime, it is critical that we determine whether this is more of the same government spin we expect out of Iran, or, more urgently, an attempt to lay out as many reasons that Iran can come up with to justify killing pastor Youcef Nadarkhani," said Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the ACLJ.

The Blaze has also called Iran to task for spreading lies about Pastor Youcef’s conviction:

What the Iranian government is likely forgetting here is that the ACLJ has a copy of the Supreme Court’s verdict. This document, which the government has likely tried to keep from public view, claims that the Youcef is guilty of “turning his back on Islam.” The penalty, as noted, is “execution by hanging.”

No other charges are mentioned in the document, yet Iran now claims that his move away from Islam isn’t at the root of the case — a development that many, including ACLJ staff, believe to be fabricated. What originated as a conversion charge continues to evolve.

CBN News has extensively covered this story, was one of the first media outlets to really push for Pastor Youcef’s release, and has continued to publish the latest reports:

New reports are surfacing that imprisoned Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was questioned by Iranian officials Wednesday about his case and the charges he's facing. . . .

It's unclear what their intensions were or what was said, but the American Center for Law and Justice warned that the meeting may not be a positive development.

"We are concerned that Iran could be attempting to put together a case against him, manipulating his own words, in order to prove false new allegations against him," Jordan Sekulow said in an email to CBN News.

CNN covered the increasing support for Pastor Youcef among Congressional and political leaders in America:

Last week, a number of members of Congress also released statements calling on Iran to release Nadarkhani. A statement by Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, called the situation, “distressing for people of every country and creed.” . . .

Jordan Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative legal organization founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, said his organization is working with members of Congress to ensure these statements continue.

International media have also picked up on Iran’s utter disregard for human rights and spreading lies to try to silence media coverage:

Youcef Nadarkhani who was accused of apostasy from Islam still faces death penalty amid new allegations including that he is a "Zionist." . . .

Jordan Sekulow, the executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, told Fox, “The only question now is whether the Iranian government is actually leveling these new charges against him in court or just throwing out new accusations to try and deflect media attention.”

Jay and Jordan Sekulow have appeared on Fox New, CBN News, and the 700 club numerous times discussing this critical case, as can be seen here. Jordan’s latest update on this case on CBN News is above.

As we continue to work with Pastor Youcef’s attorney in Iran, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, he has stressed to us that this type of media coverage is what is critical to pressuring Iran to release Pastor Youcef.

This level of media coverage is a direct result of your outcry that we not be silent as an innocent man is put to death for his faith. We must keep up the pressure on the Iranian regime. Please continue sharing our updates, news stories, and video’s.

If you haven’t already done so, please sign and share our Petition to Secretary of State Clinton and the United Nations to Put Pressure on Iran to Save this Christian Pastor’s Life. Time is of the essence, as we continue fighting to save his life. On behalf of Pastor Youcef and his family, thank you.