CBN News - UN Rep. Calls on Iran to Release Condemned Pastor

By CBNNews.com

A United Nations special representative has publicly called on the Iranian government to release Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who is facing the death sentence for refusing to recant his faith in Christ.

Nadarkhani faces possible execution for his conversion to Christianity, according the American Center for Law and Justice.

U.N. Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed expressed his concern over Iran's repeated violations of human rights in a speech Thursday to the General Assembly's Social, Humanitarian Cultural Affairs committee, also known as the Third Committee.

"The special rapporteur was particularly disturbed by a recent ruling of the Supreme Court that upheld a death sentence for Yousef Nadarkhani, a Protestant pastor who was reportedly born to Muslim parents but converted to Christianity when he was 19 years old," Shaheed said. . . .

The ACLJ continues to work to have Nadarkhani released. The group said the growing international pressure has helped keep the pastor alive. . . .

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