Youcef Alive as International Pressure Expands

Our sources on the ground in Iran confirmed to the ACLJ that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still alive as of Tuesday evening this week.

International pressure continues to build calling for the release of this persecuted pastor on death row in Iran for his Christian faith.

Last week, Jordan Sekulow, ACLJ Executive Director, met with the Vice President of Brazil and other government officials who assured the ACLJ that they are working diplomatically with Iran to secure Pastor Youcef’s immediate release. You can read Jordan’s posts about meeting with the Vice President of Brazil and a Brazilian Senator who has been in direct contact with Iran’s ambassador to Brazil.

In fact, while Jordan was in Brazil, Tiffany Barrans, the ACLJ’s International Legal Director, was in Geneva meeting with United Nations Special Rapporteur Dr. Ahmed Shaheed about Pastor Youcef before his presentation to the Human Rights Council. Dr. Shaheed again called for Pastor Youcef’s release during his report – a call that was echoed by many nations in attendance.

We urge other nations with diplomatic relations with Iran, especially Muslim nations, to speak out against this ultimate human-rights abuse, and demand that Iran spare Pastor Youcef’s life and immediately release him.

The ACLJ’s Tweet for Youcef campaign also continues to expand. News updates about Pastor Youcef are now tweeted to nearly 1.3 million Twitter accounts each and every day. Pastor Youcef’s story has now reached 204 countries and territories around the globe, accounting for over 90 percent of the United Nations member states.

To learn more about Pastor Youcef plight or to join the Tweet for Youcef campaign, please visit ALCJ.org/Nadarkhani.