Defend Christian Pastor in Iran

Update on this story as at 12th June 2012:

The good news is that Youcef Nadarkhani is still alive.

The bad news is that he is still in prison.

The further bad news is that his lawyer – the only one who would represent him – is now in prison as well:

The Email address of the President of Iran is further down this post.  Update ends.

Call to rescind death penalty for Iranian pastor.

Our urgent action is needed to secure an official pardon for Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, convicted of apostasy.
Christian Solidarity say it has become traditional to pardon prisoners during Eid Al-Ahda in some parts of the Muslim world. Already during Eid 2011, hundreds of prisoners have been pardoned in Morocco, Egypt and Dubai.  We have just today to secure a pardon for Pastor Nadarkhani during Eid, but if you read this after the date, your emails will bring much needed pressure after the festival as well.

Melanie Phillips wrote about this case a month ago.   Pastor Youcef continues to deny the charges of apostasy, and it is not at all clear if he has ever held the Muslim faith to apostatise from it.  In the face of pressure from the USA, the Iranians went into panic mode and claimed the Pastor had committed other crimes, crimes for which, strangely enough, he has never been charged.  It seems he may have been asked, and refused, to recant and deny Jesus Christ three times now.

Melanie Phillips concludes: ‘It is still possible to save this man’s life if enough protest is made. British political leaders should be making their voices heard very loudly against this barbarity by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Have you been hearing them? No, nor have I.’

– EMAIL: Since the expulsion of Iranian diplomats, we can no longer email the Iranian Chargé d’affaires at the UK Embassy.  However, we can email the President of Iran, and ask him, respectfully of course, when Pastor Nadarkhani will be acquitted, or pardoned, and released.  Head your email: ‘Attn: His Excellency the President’ then begin ‘Your Excellency’ and conclude ‘Yours faithfully.’  dr-ahmadinejad@president.ir

– Email your MP and ask him/her to ask the Foreign Secretary to call in the Iranian Charge d’Affaires to demand Pastor Nadarkhani be released.

Remember: When emailing or writing to dignitaries of any sort, keep to one subject, keep it simple and ask a question.

Psalm 31:2  Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
Daniel 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

PRAY: That we shall hear speedily that Pastor Nadarkhani has been delivered from prison, and that HMG put real pressure on the Iranians to release our brother.  Pray that in the meantime he will know the presence of the Lord Jesus just as the children of Israel had the Son of God with them in the fiery furnace.  Pray too for his wife and two sons at this difficult time that the Lord will uphold them.