Under Increased Pressure Pastor Youcef Refuses to Recant Faith in Christ
Iran is continuing its relentless attempt to force persecuted Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani to recant his faith in Jesus Christ. New reports state that Iranian officials are still pressuring the pastor, who has been sentenced to death for his Christian faith, “to renounce his faith in Christ and accept the prophet Muhammad as his savior.”
Pastor Youcef, has once again refused, remaining steadfast in his faith. Remember, Iran previously demanded on at least three separate occasions that Pastor Youcef recant his faith and convert to Islam at his latest trial, to which he replied “I cannot.”
The Iranian court tasked with making a final determination about Pastor Youcef’s fate has ignored its own promise to make its determination over a month ago. Iran’s move to further delay a determination regarding Pastor Youcef not only violates international law; it violates Iranian law as well.
What is even worse than the delay, is that the Iranian government seems to be continuing to manipulate and coerce Pastor Youcef to convert to Islam.
We first told you several months ago that Iran’s Secret Security had visited Pastor Youcef in prison, without the presence of his Iranian attorney, and ordered him to “read and reflect” on Islamic propaganda. This is a direct and blatant violation of Iran’s own constitution, which provides that the “investigation of individuals’ beliefs is forbidden, and no one may be molested or taken to task simply for holding a certain belief.”
As Tiffany Barrans, International Legal Director for the ACLJ, has stated, “Rather than uphold its legal obligations under the rule of law, which requires it free Pastor Youcef and allow him to peacefully practice Christianity, Iran yet again obliterates any credibility it might have held with the international community.”
Iran’s increased pressure on Pastor Youcef can be directly attributed to increased pressure from the international community. As more and more people around the world have learned about Pastor Youcef’s plight and Iran’s abuses, Iran is feeling the pressure. The Iranian regime is clearly reacting. If it can convince Pastor Youcef to convert to Islam, the story goes away, and its human rights abuses would no longer be in the spotlight.
Now is the time to continue to turn up the heat on Iran. Share Pastor Youcef’s story on Facebook, Twitter, email, and with your church.
Last week we put together a great resource that you can share regarding Pastor Youcef, detailing some of the disturbing facts about his case. We will continue to keep you informed as we work to secure his release.