Unanimous Vote for Pastor Youcef in Key Senate Committee

More than 120,000 of you have signed our petition to the U.S. Senate asking for unanimous approval of S.Res. 385. This resolution calls for the exoneration of Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, and demands his immediate and unconditional release. Remember, Pastor Youcef’s only crime is his faith in Jesus Christ.

Today it appears that the Senate is hearing you. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), unanimously approved S.Res. 385 and forwarded it to the Senate floor. This is a significant victory, as it clears the way for the full Senate to consider the measure.

The fact that today’s vote was unanimous is especially significant because it makes S.Res. 385 a good candidate to be approved by Unanimous Consent on the Senate floor. Under this procedure, unless a Senator objects, the resolution can be quickly processed without significant parliamentary hurdles.

As we approach July 8, 2012 and Pastor Youcef’s 1,000th day in an Iranian jail, we are hopeful that the full U.S. Senate is poised to add its voice to that of the White House, the State Department and the U.S. House of Representatives in calling for the immediate exoneration and release of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.

We are especially grateful today for Sen. David Vitter’s sponsorship of S. Res. 385, and to Sen. John Kerry for putting the resolution on the Committee’s agenda for today. It is time for the full Senate to stand for religious freedom and with Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.

And so Leader Reid, you are up. It is time to schedule the vote.