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No Compromise: The Story of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani
Posted by
Michael Peabody on February 23, 2012 ·
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“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms reports
that Iranian authorities’ reaffirmed a death sentence for Iranian Pastor
Youcef Nadarkhani for the sole reason of his refusal to recant his
Christian faith. This action is yet another shocking breach of Iran’s
international obligations, its own constitution, and stated religious
values. The United States stands in solidarity with Pastor Nadarkhani,
his family, and all those who seek to practice their religion without
fear of persecution—a fundamental and universal human right. The trial
and sentencing process for Pastor Nadarkhani demonstrates the Iranian
government’s total disregard for religious freedom, and further
demonstrates Iran’s continuing violation of the universal rights of its
citizens. The United States calls upon the Iranian authorities to
immediately lift the sentence, release Pastor Nadarkhani, and
demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including
freedom of religion. The United States renews its calls for people of
conscience and governments around the world to reach out to Iranian
authorities and demand Pastor Nadarkhani’s immediate release.”
——————
It is difficult to argue for
separation of church and state when you are living in a “theocracy.”
Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, 34, learned this fact when he was
arrested in October 2009 soon after refusing to allow his children to
participate in government-mandated readings of the Quran. Nadarkhani had
argued that Iranian law allowed children to be raised in the faith of
their parents.
Nadarkhani remained incarcerated and in September 2010, a Gilan
Province court ordered him to hang for “convert(ing) to Christianity”
and “encourag(ing) other Muslims to convert to Christianity.”
The court did provide an opportunity for Nadarkhani to easily escape
the gallows – all he had to do was verbally renounce Christianity. Since
then, as of this writing, Nadarkhani has had the choice whether to live
or die – just say the words and his freedom will be restored. Yet he
refuses and remains behind walls at the Lakan prison.
The court asked him, “Do you believe in the elements of Islam which
are the unity of God, resurrection of the dead and the prophethood of
great Mohammad?”
Nadarkhani replied, “I believe in the unity of God and the resurrection of the dead but not the prophethood of great Mohammad.”
On June 10, 2010, Nadarkhani’s wife, Fatemah Pasindedih was arrested
under charges of apostasy and imprisoned at Lakan. The authorities
threatened to take away their children and give them to a Muslim family.
Nadarkhani continued to refuse to convert and his wife was tried
without an attorney and sentenced to life imprisonment. An attorney was
then retained and that decision was appealed and the sentence was
overturned and she was released.
Nadarkhani’s death sentence was appealed to the Iranian Supreme Court
in December 2010 and on June 28, 2011 the verdict was handed down. He
was to be “executed by being hung somehow until his soul is taken from
him.” The Court ruled that there was some question as to whether
Nadarkhani had previously been a practicing Muslim “from the beginning
of puberty” onward and therefore whether he had actually committed
apostasy. The lower court was ordered to determine whether he had been a
practicing Muslim between the ages of 15 and 19. If he had been a
Muslim during that time, then the court could execute him after giving
him an additional opportunity to recant.
The lower court held its re-trial between September 25 and 28, 2011.
Before the trial even began, he was asked to renounce his faith. Under
Islamic Sharia law
[i],
an apostate is given three days to recant. The court then asked
Nadarkhani to renounce his Christianity and “return to the faith of your
ancestors.”
As the case progressed, the story caught fire on the Internet and
soon news agencies around the world were spreading the story of a young
pastor facing death for refusing to renounce his faith. In an attempt to
sway attention away from the story, the Iranian state-supported media
outlet, Fars News Agency, dismissed claims that the court had passed
down the death sentence because of apostasy, and that Nadarkhani had
actually been charged with “rape, corruption, and security-related
crimes including extortion.”
[ii]
The Fars story added that Nadarkhani was a “Zionist” who ran a
“corruption” house like a brothel or “opium house.” The alleged charges
were not clear as to what Nadarkani had allegedly done.
In response, Nadarkhani’s attorney, Mohammed Ali Dadkhah told told
the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, “If he is under
trial in another court on other charges, I am not aware. But we only
defended him against the death sentence in the case of his charge of
apostasy. The charge the court staff announced that I defended during
several different court sessions was apostasy and no other charge.”
[iii]
Dadkhah, a Iranian Muslim represents Nadarkhani at great personal
risk – he himself appealing a sentence of nine years in prison for
“actions and propaganda against the Islamic regime,” which is what the
government calls his legal human rights work.
Iran’s secret service officials have reportedly given Nadarkhani a
book on Islamic literature, and told him that they will return to
discuss it with him. The book, entitled “Beshaarat-eh Ahdein,” claims
that Christianity is false. If Nadarkhani later discusses the book with
authorities and claims that he disagrees with it, this may be a basis
for a later charge of blasphemy. As a result, Nadarkhani’s attorneys
have advised him to remain silent on the book as any statements he makes
could be used against him.
Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State released a statement on
September 30, 2011 expressing concern about the case and persecution
against Zoroastrians, Sufis, and Baha’is. Clinton wrote, “The United
States stands with the international community and all Iranians against
the Iranian government’s hypocritical statements and actions, and we
continue to call for a government that respects the human rights and
freedom of all those living in Iran.”
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said that the prospects for the
execution of Nadarkhani, “unless he disavows his Christian faith are
distressing for people of every country and creed.”
Today, there are about 300,000 Christians living in Iran – one-half
of one percent of the population. Of those, the majority are ethnic
Armenians. There are 73 registered individual Christian churches, and
almost all Christian activity is illegal. Those who conduct evangelistic
activities including publishing pamphlets in Persian languages are
harshly punished.
During the early 1990s, religious persecution increased in Iran. In
1993, Pastor Mehdi Dibaj, an Islamic convert was sentenced to die after
ten years of imprisonment. Later that year, church leaders were asked to
sign a declaration stating that they would not allow Muslims or Muslim
converts into their churches. Only two church leaders refused to sign,
including Haik Hovsepian who was the Superintendent of the Assemblies of
God churches in Iran.
Instead, Hovsepian called the world’s attention to the plight of
Iranian Christians. With an increase in international pressure, Dibadj
was released from prison on January 19, 1994, only days before he was
scheduled to die.
[iv]
That same day, Hovsepian vanished from the streets of Tehran, and his
body was later found with 26 stab wounds in the chest. Dibadj and three
other pastors disappeared and their bodies were later discovered.
Throughout history, it seems that people of most faiths have had some
period of persecution and martyrdom for no crime other than telling
others what they have chosen to believe. Those who dared to think
differently were dangerous to the status quo and they either had to
publicly change their mind or face torture or death.
When it comes to church and state issues, Americans have become used
to “epic” battles over Nativity scenes, prayers in public schools, or
the occasional crucifix in a government office. But in other nations of
the world, making the basic choice to believe a certain way can quickly
become a matter of life and death.
There is still hope that the sentence will not be carried out.
To Take Action, visit
http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=news&id=1142
[i] Abdurrahmani’l-Djaziri’s Kitabul’l-fiqh ‘ala’l-madhahibi’l-’arba’a i.e.
Apostasy in Islam according to the Four Schools of Islamic Law (Vol. 5, pp. 422-440) First English Edition (Villach): 1997
[iv] Hovsepian Ministries maintains a website at
http://www.hovsepian.com
