David Allen Green

A critical and liberal look at law and policy

The trial and punishment of Yousef Nadarkhani

Is a man to be executed for "apostasy"?

By David Allen Green Published 28 September 2011 16:19

Yousef Nadarkhani is a Christian pastor living in Iran, and it is reported that he is about to be hanged.

He had a particular interest in promoting Christian education, even though Iran is a country where Islamic schools are the norm. One day, nearly two years ago, he was arrested.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) :

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, of the Church of Iran denomination, was arrested in his home city of Rasht on 13 October 2009 while attempting to register his church. His arrest is believed to have been due to his questioning of the Muslim monopoly on the religious instruction of children in Iran.

Once arrested, the predicament of Nadarkhani worsened considerably. To again quote CSW:

He was initially charged with protesting; however the charges against him were later changed to apostasy and evangelising Muslims.

Of course, one does not have to be a critic of faith-based education or of religious belief generally (I am both) to see such an arrest and charge as fundamentally illiberal. To any Western observer, these things are not a matter for the criminal law, or indeed for any other form of coercion.

Nonetheless, Nadarkhani is convicted of apostasy by the Court in Rasht in September 2010. And this is where the case takes a deeply disturbing turn, for the court then proceeded to sentence him to death.

The full judgment (in an unofficial translation) was as follows:

According to the indictment No: 89/4/3-2080, issued by the public persecutor office of Rasht, Mr Yousef Nadarkhani, son of Biram, 32 years old and married, temporary in general prison since 28/7/1388, charged with the denial of the prophethood of the great prophet of Islam, that It has resulted in inherent apostasy from the holy religion of Islam after he has accepted it at the age of maturity until the age of 19.

The brief definition of what has taken place is that the mentioned-above person was born in 1356 from Muslim parents and according to his own statements in primary investigations, he has accepted Islam and obeyed its commandments from the age of puberty, and at the age of 19 he has converted from Islam to Christianity officially.

He has frequently denied the prophethood of the great prophet of Islam and the rule of the sacred religion of Islam. And he has proven his apostasy by organizing evangelistic meetings and inviting others to Christianity, establishing a house church, baptizing people, expressing his faith to others and, denying Islamic values.

After his arrest, during investigations, most of the time he has proven his return from Islam and denying the rule of Islam over all the religions in his own handwritten bills to The Assize Court of the province of Gilan. Even in his last defense on the date of 24/12/1388, when he was asked, "from the age of puberty until the age of 19, what religion have you had?"

He replied that "Since I was born in a Muslim family, I was Muslim until I converted to Christianity at the age of 19. In the other persecutor's question with this content that " do you admit that you were Muslim from the age of puberty and you converted to Christianity after passing the age of 19?" He replied he was Muslim from the age of puberty till he converted to Christianity in 19 years of age.

He was questioned once again that "do you believe in the elements of Islam which are the unity of God, resurrection of the dead and the prophethood of great Mohammad?" He answered "I believe in the unity of God and the resurrection of the dead but not the prophethood of great Mohammad."

After the issuance of culpability and indictment, the case has been sent to the courts that referred it to this section. Dr. Naser Sarbazi and Mr. Abbas Salmanpoor were appointed as the accused's attorneys, the court proceeded with the case after the formalities were carried out. The representative of the public persecutor office of Rasht read the issued indictment, and according to it, apostasy is a crime according to theologians of Islam even though there is a punishment for it in the laws of Islamic Republic of Iran. With regard to the Article 167 of The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Article 3 of Civil procedure of the Islamic Revolutionary Tribunal, and the Article 105 of the Islamic Judicial system of Iran.

After the court caused him to understand the charge, the above-named person initially declined the charge by saying he has not have any particular religion after passing the puberty age till the age of 19, and converted to Christianity officially by believing that it is the only truth.

When he was asked by the court that why he has repeatedly stated during interrogations that " Since I was born in a Muslim family, I have been Muslim after passing the puberty age until I converted from Islam to Christianity at the age of 19". He answered " The persecutor induced me to believe whoever is born from Muslim parents and does not choose any religions after passing the puberty age, is a Muslim. That is why I have stated so."

The accused's attorneys in addition to repeating their client's defense, stated that, "Since there is no punishment specified in the Islamic Judicial system of Iran and other penal laws and therefore their client has not committed a crime to deserve a punishment. Secondly: Their client has not accepted Islam from the beginning of the puberty age to become an apostate by returning from it. Thirdly: Their client does not deny the prophethood of the great prophet of Islam as he has stated in his bills to The Assize Court of the province of Gilan that, he believes in great Mohammad as the great prophet of Islam. Fourthly: due to existance of not proven evidence regarding this case, the attorneys have requested a not guilty verdict for their client. in response to the court, that whether the accused believes in the prophethood of great Mohammad son of Abdullah as a prophet from almighty God for the salvation of humanity or not, he said, " I have stated in the written bills that he is the prophet of Muslims but not a messenger from God, I am saved for not studying Islam, and I will never speak of Islamic testimonies to convert to Islam.

After hearing of the indictment by the public persecutor, the accused denied his apostasy charge in his last defense, and committed the remaining defense to his attorneys' hands.

The attorneys have pleaded a not guilty verdict for their client by repeating the same previous defense. objections affected on the trial somehow one member of the jury left during the trial. even though some jury members, in the first day 30/6/89 and second day 31/6/89 of the trial, specified that the court has not accepted the objections after termination of the trial, and answers to the objections have been written.

As a result, with regard to 1- The reports of the intelligence bureau of Gilan as the executive office of the Judicial system. 2- The accused's explicit and indisputable writings with the content that he has accepted Islam at the age of maturity, and quitted it at the age of 19. 3- organizing evangelistic gatherings and admitting establishments of house churches. 4- the accused's unreasonable and not proven defense, that he has not enter Islam to quit it. 5- his written bills from prison to the investigator in charge of the case that confirm his statements in the intelligence bureau. 6- and other elements that exist in the case such as attorney's unreasonable defense that their client's denial of prophethood of the great prophet of Islam has not been due to enmity and malice with Islam but because of the anger and pressure he has been bearing.

It has been proven to the members of the jury that Mr Youcef Nadarkhani, son of Biram, has been born from Muslim parents, have chosen Islam, and quitted it at the age 19.

His actions according to the fatwas of all Shia theologians is considered as inherent apostasy from the sacred religion of Islam. With regard to the Article 167 of The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Article 3 of Civil procedure of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, Article 8 of The law of Establishment of the General and Revolutionary Courts, Article 105 of the Islamic Judicial system of Iran, Article 8 from the book of Tahrir Alvasilah Fi Sofat Alghazi Va Maianaseb Lah, Fatwas of theologians including Imam and the supreme leader and grand ayatollahs Mohammad Reza Golpayegani, Safi, Makarem Shirazi, Behjat Foumani, and pages of 103 till 109 of his file, the above-mentioned person as an apostate will be executed by being hung until somehow his soul is taken from him. The sentence is attendant and appealable at the supreme court 20 days after when It has been delivered.

So the death sentence -- "the above-mentioned person as an apostate will be executed by being hung somehow until his soul is taken from him" -- is not even based on codified Iranian law; it is based instead on Fatwas. Furthermore the death sentence does not even warrant more than a cursory mention: not even a full sentence in the unofficial English translation.

This case then goes to the Iranian Supreme Court on appeal in July 2011. By now, Nadarkhani is represented by the renowned and fearless Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, clearly one of the most admirable lawyers in the world, who is himself currently appealing a sentence of nine years' imprisonment.

The (brief) judgment of the Supreme Court, again in unofficial translation:

Mr Yousef Nadarkhani son of Bayram, a 34 year-old from Rasht became Muslim at the age of maturity is convicted of denying Mohammad and left Islam. He was born in 1356 of Muslim parents, and according to the investigation he was practicing Islam and keeping the commandments after the age of maturity. He converted and accepted Christianity officially at the age of 19 in the year 1375. He frequently denied Islam and Mohammad during the investigations. Also he proselytized others and invited them to the house church, baptized them and expressed his beliefs and his pervertedness. He expressed his faith in Christianity in the court before investigators and his lawyers.

According to the statements of the defendant and Khomeini's book prevision 8, sentences of other Imams, Khamenei and Makaremshirazi, the court convicted him and his sentence is hanging by rope. The sentence is contestable, his lawyers protested and the file has been transferred to the Supreme Court and has referred to this branch.

Verdict: Mr Yousef Nadarkhani confessed that he converted to Christianity and helped other people to convert and named himself a shepherd and insisted in Christianity, He doesn't believe in Mohammad, Imams and the Quran. The contents of the file also support these facts but the investigation is needed to prove that he was a Muslim after the age of maturity and practicing Islam, there is not any witness from friends, relatives, family and Muslim people who were in contact with him so the file is incomplete. According to the sentence of Imams such as Khomeini, the witness is needed to prove whether or not he was a Muslim and if he was a Muslim but remained unwilling to repent, the execution ruling is to be issued.

The file is incomplete and sent back to the same branch for reconsideration.

However, a contact of CSW has claimed that the proceedings in Iran took a further horrifying turn on Sunday:

Following investigation, the court in Rasht has ruled that Pastor Nadarkhani was not a practicing Muslim adult before becoming a Christian. However, the court has decided that he remains guilty of apostasy because he has Muslim ancestry.

Pastor Nadarkhani's lawyer, Mr Mohammed Ali Dadkhah, has made it clear to the court that the repeated demand for recanting is against both Iranian law and the constitution.

The court replied that the verdict of the Supreme Court must be applied, regardless of the illegality of the demand.

So we are told Nadarkhani was given four opportunities to recant.

We are also told that three times he has refused, and that his final chance is today.

There is no news yet on what happened. No one is available at the Iranian Embassy to comment.

And so, if the CSW and their contact are correct, a man will shortly "be executed by being hung until somehow his soul is taken from him", and this will be because he will not recant his religion.

David Allen Green is legal correspondent of the New Statesman

Tags: Religion

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76 comments

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Wed, 2011-09-28 22:51 — stephen (not verified)

@keir My final point to you is your definition of Christian,given that St.Peter founded it and that the early followers of Christ who wrote the Bible were the Church,I'd argue that they are truer to Christ than any of the 50,000 different branches of Protestantism which exist in the world today.You see them dance and jump around,surely the Christ who kicked the merchants out wouldn't approve of that.That someone can pick up a Bible,have their own interpretation of it,completely removed from tradition is nonsensical and anarchic.Catholic simply means Universal,Christ's church following his true teachings under the authority of the successor to Peter.You go to mass to 'do this(eucharist) in memory' of Christ,not of itself.The various interpretations of Christianity as evident in the thousands of Protestant faiths is comical,Christ's divinity is denied by many of them even.
By the way,sola scriptura and all that,why did Protestants feel the need to remove books from the Bible and alter passages to suit their own needs? eg KJV Same old anti-Catholicism,never goes anywhere.That's why England is an atheist country now,there is nothing eternal about Protestantism.

Thu, 2011-09-29 22:03 — atc, bristol (not verified)

Yes, check out release international, open doors, csw, voice of the martyrs. Many in the UK have no inkling and think we're bleating on to wave our self-sorry flag.

Wed, 2011-09-28 22:52 — Stephen (not verified)

Anyways,an innocent man is about to be killed in the name of Christ here,no matter what demonination he is,or what demonination his killers are,it's disgusting.

Wed, 2011-09-28 23:45 — richard pratt (not verified)

Pastor Nadarkhani is a very brave and dedicated man. He does not HAVE to die for his faith in Jesus, but he CHOOSES to do so!If he is killed, his sacrifice will not be in vain, because it will help expose the evil of Islamic culture, and cause many more to follow Jesus. Killing the followers of Jesus never benefits the Oppressors.

Thu, 2011-09-29 00:10 — Sally (not verified)

So I guess everyone who keeps saying Islam is 'The Religion of Peace' and tolerance is lying then, oh what a surprise.

Thu, 2011-09-29 01:07 — Izhar (not verified)

I refer to Tim's comments. I am a Muslim and yes, there is no compulsion in Islam. He's free to choose his faith. How many Islamic countries who actually kill people because of this?

Thu, 2011-09-29 01:55 — Gerry Tierney (not verified)

In the age of the Internet and CERN, our species are still murdering one another over invisible friends.

It's genuinely horrifying.

Our descendants are going to think us utter barbarians.

Thu, 2011-09-29 23:07 — elcooney

@Keir
Are you a ghost straight from the XVIth century? Or are you a concealed humourist?
I never thought I would read such gibberish in the XXIst century...

But let's hope -and pray for those who believe in something whatever it is - that Youssef will escape death & that he will be released soon.

Thu, 2011-09-29 02:11 — Sally (not verified)

The idea that there is no compulsion in Islam is a lie. In reality, Islam is coercive and bullying to enforce Islam on Muslims and towards non Muslims too.

Thu, 2011-09-29 23:20 — ubicaritas (not verified)

URGENT URGENT URGENT - there may still be time to cut the cackle and do something

CONTACT IRANIAN EMBASSY -

PHONE: 020 7225 3000

FAX: 020 7589 4440

EMAIL: info@iran-embassy.org.uk

or use EMAIL FORM:
http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=88&ea.campaign.id=12209

APPEAL TO HIGHER AUTHORITY -

PRAY: God (here, there and everywhere)

UPDATE HERE (thurs 29th):
http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=1233&search=

"Yesterday Pastor Nadarkhani faced the latest session of a court case that ran from 25 to 28 September, during which he was requested on three separate occasions to renounce his faith in order to secure an annulment of the charge of apostasy and a lifting of the death sentence. Pastor Nadarkhani refused each time. The final defence was presented by Mr Dadkhah to the court on 28 September.

The written verdict is now awaited, expected within a week."

THANK YOU, DAVID FOR ARTICLE - blessings

P.S.
TROY DAVIS FUNERAL SAT 1st Oct - watch out for it - HUGELY significant

Thu, 2011-09-29 02:22 — Keir

'Catholic simply means Universal'

Worldly, more like.

Thu, 2011-09-29 23:36 — ubicaritas (not verified)

excuse me posting this, but it is connected (and inspiring)- see second para particularly.

MARTINA CORREIA (Troy Davis' sister) after Troy's death, talking on Democracy Now -

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/9/26/martina_correia_on_execution_of_troy

"Well, you know, on the last days, when we had time visiting with Troy, Troy said that this evil practice of killing the poor and people of color and intimidating and using, you know, bad practice in the judicial system, he said it didn’t start with him, and it won’t end with him, even if he’s executed, but the work must go on, and that all they can do is take his physical presence, because his faith in God is protecting him.

And he said that if he has to give his life for the cause, then that’s God’s will, but it’s going to open doors for people, and it’s going to knock down barriers that we couldn’t get knocked down before. And if that is God’s will, then he’s willing to be that sacrifice to make change, so that other young people don’t have to go through this.

So Troy was not afraid. And we’re not afraid.

And, you know, Troy has walked free from those prison cells."

Thu, 2011-09-29 06:08 — DrJLD (not verified)

These people want to turn the clock back to the beginning of Islam. However, their view of Islam, even 1400 years ago, is a recent thing. They utterly lack compassion, mercy, and decency. This all an infantile attempt to stop progress and to return to a time that never did exist according to the history of Islam. This Iranian, and other 'fundamentalists', stuff comes from the late 19th century and the mid 20th century.

To kill a man for such a thing (apostasy) for leaving a faith he never practiced or believed in is the worst kind of excess.

Sat, 2011-10-01 00:54 — Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley (not verified)

.. this word "recant". Do we mean the opposite of "decant"? As in somehow put something back in the bottle?

I think this idea is mistaken. Better to take a fresh new look at the whole context..Thus as a Christian, in my view perhaps Mr Yousef Nadarkhani should carefully reflect upon the astonishing fact that Jesus Christ never recanted the religion He was born into- So why is Mr.Yousef under the impression that he needs to deny the fact that he is Muslim born and bred? Can a leopard change it's spots? Jesus as a Jewish person living under Roman occupation still built upon the Jewish religion he knew,fulfilling biblical prophesy and revealing His practical way of truth as some good news. And what a yoke it turned out to be..( joke )

I just don't think it's good Christian practice to give up so easily by choosing death instead of admitting publicly that one might have got hold of the wrong end of the stick. God doesn't want us to die - but live!
Let's hope and pray the man changes his mind and does whatever it takes to live, Amen.

Thu, 2011-09-29 10:16 — Flashbuck (not verified)

All cultures are equal and it's all part of the rich multi-cultural world in which we live, so get over it and celebrate diversity.

Thu, 2011-09-29 10:32 — Tarek almasry (not verified)

I pray for you my brother Yousef, may the spirit of the most high strengthen your heart, council your and comfort your family amen I was there and now I am free, I was in bondage and now I am saved.
Prepare yourselves, the third world war is budding, it will be provoked by Islam and it will take in its way the old and young, deny this at your own peril, but better prepare your children for it. When those people finish with their own they will turn on us everywhere outside their countries until they render us either Muslims or dead, that is what their religion is all about.

Thu, 2011-09-29 11:27 — ivan (not verified)

I find the execution of Troy Davis far more shocking. The USA claims to be a country that has the rule of law and fair trials, yet proceeded to execute someone in a transparently flawed process. Iran is proud to be a theocracy that executes people for religious offences, and the supreme court frequently wriggles to find a way of avoiding carrying out the execution in such cases, as we see in this case. As in the USA, local courts in Iran have carried out death sentences in defiance of the supreme court (here I refer to previous cases in Iran, the execution has not yet been carried out yet in this case). The USA should examine the parallels between these cases and realise it needs to take action to force reform in the medieval legal systems that persist in some states of the union.

Mon, 2011-11-28 01:40 — No side to take (not verified)

Islam is a scourge on humanity.

Thank goodness the people in Islamic countries are beginning to read the Koran and seeing it for what it truly is.

May God, if He is really there, give grace to this man's loved ones, and somehow enlighten the darkened minds of these seriously fucked up sons of Allah.

Thu, 2011-09-29 12:48 — Keir

'By the way,sola scriptura and all that,why did Protestants feel the need to remove books from the Bible and alter passages to suit their own needs?'

Protestants of course did not believe that they removed any part of the Bible. The took the view that the Vatican, being opposed to the Bible yet giving it lip service, had slipped in apocryphal texts that contradicted the true biblical content, in effect saying that Jesus had not died. They had done this by virtue of historical accident, the translation of these alien texts added to translations of the genuine ones under the aegis of an Egyptian Ptolemy, one of incestuous habit, moreover. So there was every reason to exclude them, as serious scholars should.

There was no such subtlety about Muhammad, whose only significant distinctive was his brassy, unsupported statement that Jesus had not died, after all. Allah, the Wise and Merciful, had for six hundred years allowed the known world to labour under the misaprehension that he had died, but here was Muhammad to clear it up once and for all, using his undoubted authority as a leader of armed men. Yousef Nadarkhani does not buy this story, any more than he buys the apocrypha and apocryphal tales of Rome. Just as there were martyrs in England a few centuries ago, there are martyrs under Sharia now.

Wed, 2011-11-30 19:12 — J Unit CYP UK

How can people condemn Islamophobia when this happens? I pray this man survives and moves to the west. Islamic nations kill christians and gays. Sharia law is perverted, barbarian and sick.

Sat, 2011-10-01 12:03 — sven king (not verified)

Iran: Pastor facing execution as apostate from Islam now branded "Zionist" and "traitor"
Pressure and bad publicity are mounting for Iran as Yusef Nadarkhani faces execution at any time for refusing four times to recant his conversion to Christianity and return to Islam. And so they have piled on more allegations, and more excuses to kill him, as Nadarkhani's lawyer says the deputy governor's remarks were the first time "security"-related allegations had arisen.

If one charge doesn't stick, they have other ways to keep abusing him. "Iran pastor guilty of being a 'Zionist, traitor': official," from Agence France-Presse, September 30:

Iranian pastor Yusef Nadarkhani should face the death penalty for being a traitorous "Zionist" and committing "security crimes," not for apostasy, an official said Friday according to Fars news agency, amid a Western outcry over his sentence.
Perhaps authorities sense discomfort within segments of Iranian society (or even somewhere within their own consciences) over the utter absence of logic in killing a man simply for what he believes, and suppose that padding the case with these charges might make it easier to sell.

Nadarkhani's lawyer told AFP that the remarks by Gholam-Ali Rezvani, deputy governor general of the northern province of Gilan, where the pastor's case is being reheard, were the first time security offences had been mentioned.
Rezvani's comments were also the first public remarks by an Iranian official about Nadarkhani's case.
"The issue of crime and of capital punishment of this individual is not a question of faith or religion -- in our system, one cannot be executed for changing their religion," Fars quoted Rezvani as saying.
Sure.

Nadarkhani was, however, "a Zionist, a traitor and had committed security crimes," said Rezvani, who is responsible for security and political affairs in the province.
Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, Nadarkhani's lawyer, told AFP that Rezvani's remarks were the first time authorities had cited "security offences" against his client.
"On the apostasy, that is exactly what we were told in front of the court," he said. "However, there was no mention of security offences during the trial. These new accusations should be examined by the courts."
Nadarkhani, now 32, converted from Islam to Christianity at the age of 19 and became pastor of a small evangelical community called the Church of Iran.
He was arrested in October 2009 and condemned to death for apostasy under Islamic sharia law, which allows for such verdicts to be overturned if the convicted person "repents" and renounces his conversion.
After his conviction was upheld by an appeals court in Gilan province in September 2010, Nadarkhani turned to the supreme court.
In July, the supreme court overturned the death sentence and sent the case back to the court in his hometown of Rasht, in Gilan province.
Dadkhah said on Wednesday he was "optimistic" Nadarkhani could be set free.
"Our last court session was held on Wednesday. Mr Nadarkhani did not repent and the last court verdict said he would face a death sentence if he did not," he said.
"However, we offered our explanations and I think the court was convinced. I am optimistic there is a 95 percent chance he will be released in the final ruling, which I expect by the end of next week," Dadkhah added.
Several Western countries have condemned the death sentence against Nadarkhani and called for his release, including the United States, Britain, Germany, France and Poland, current chair of the European Union.

Wed, 2012-03-21 19:17 — ChurchillDexter

I respectfully disagree with the assertion of the journalist that "To any Western observer, these things are not a matter for the criminal law, or indeed for any other form of coercion." What? That would require we burn at least half a millenium of history from the annals of the Western religion. It is debatable the inquisition in the West is over, actually, for reasons better to argue elsewhere. http://www.helpwithbaby.com/

Sat, 2011-10-01 12:13 — sven king (not verified)

Apostasy is part of Islam. Its part of its bread and butter as is honour killings, subjugation of minorities, women and infidels under the sharia.

Since the NS's Mehdi hassan is a staunch Islmamist, maybe you should as him how he feels about this?? He's very quick of the mark whenever Israel or the West are being thrown in the pot, but very reticent to criticize his own brethren or the wickeness of Islam.

Instead he writes articles that defend Sharia and plays down the effect it has on the Muslims and non Muslim world. He's a very dangerous man and he shouldn't really be allowed such a platform.

Sat, 2011-10-01 12:23 — Thaumaturgy (not verified)

Jesus commanded His disciples in Matthew 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.

This is the primary problem with martyrdom for the sake of the gospel. The international community must be realistic about this and require no more than Yousef be extradited, anything else is to reject the sovereignty of Iran who has condemned him to death as a common criminal and detrimental to the faith of Yousef, which commands only that much.

Hyperbolic demands like those from speaker of the house of representatives in the US that Iran "Grant him a full and unconditional release," are foolhardy. If the US administration genuinely desires to be involved in an active effort to save the life of Yousef, see he be released, and that his faith be respected in fact, it must pursue a way that this goal will actually be accomplished, stop pretending Yousef can practice Christianity in Iran, and demand his extradition. This will expose the Iranian justice system for the kangaroo court it is, and respect its sovereignty at the same time. Expatriation, furthermore, will do the most for the faith of Yousef, not martyrdom.

But to demand his release in Iran? That is counterproductive and impossible, doomed to fail, and in fact not an effort to exonerate Yousef and save his life at all. Extradition is the only way to challenge this Muslim state and save the life of Yousef that is realistic.

@Mrs. Josephine
It is also important for the international community to remember Muhammad saw no obligation to tell an infidel the truth. Yousef and the Christian community in the world is possibly being lied to, even about the testimony of Yousef. And who knows how honest Yousef is being as someone raised to believe and taught that he may lie to infidels? It is entirely possible his Christian beliefs have everything to do with his family, who have been silenced by the trial of their son. There is no reason to believe any truth exists in the persecutor's assertions about anything at all, most of all, the family of an infidel in its eyes, particularly, as Christians.

Thu, 2011-09-29 15:12 — Victory of Faith (not verified)

The neo-Stalinists of The New Statesman pretending to care about anti-religious crackdowns in Iran? Not very convincing, really!

Sat, 2011-10-01 16:00 — Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley (not verified)

Thanks Thaumaturgy. Surely all of these comments show a positively diverse range of ways one can look at this situation, and of course sometimes it seems we may need eyes in the back of our heads..

However, looking for a common thread, rather than a rope to hang on unnecessarily or inappropriately, I should say there's still room for people concerned to learn more about what we're supposed to be doing in support of peace and goodwill to all men. Isn't that what time is all about really?

One of God's commandments in my book tells us to honour our father and mother - so how can somebody change from their family religion - without upsetting one's parents? The only way this could be done in my view as a practical person would be to somehow openly persuade and reassure one's parents that one's new practice is in fact a wonderful new addition to what normally happens in the family.

Of course through the eyes of security, which is specifically designed to keep things safely within some prescribed remit, such a hopeful endeavour might not count, which does seem a pity - I suppose sometimes hard positions involving modern notions of security can end up used in the wrong place and/or at the wrong time eg perhaps in our wonderful jungle that is the charity world.

Indeed more time -together with new ways and means of helping everyone concerned with our learning difficulties -will probably tell a better tale than the one we seem to be getting at the moment. This is a truly awful situation - whatever is going on..

Mon, 2011-10-03 11:17 — Andyb (not verified)

This sad story just proves how lucky we are in the West to have gone through the rennaissance and the enlightenment. If it wasn't for this, the various christian churches would still be doing this kind of thing.

And those commentators who write things along the lines of "In Islam there is no compulsion in faith" are living in cloud cuckoo land. I have lived for many years in some of the more "moderate" islamic countries such as Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia. Even in those countries, Islamic faith is very much a compulsion if you are born muslim. They do not allow conversion out of the faith and do not recongnise atheism (apostates are still punished). Other religions are tolerated but can expect punishment if followers are suspected of attempting to convert muslims.

But who cares! Islam is a religion of peace, let's not forget.

Mon, 2011-10-10 02:48 — Sto (not verified)

@Agnostic: If God were truly great, He would do what He wants - not what you think is right. He didn't spare His own Son. But I think He would have if His Son had decided we weren't worth dying for. Previous posts said that this man could have spared his own life by denouncing his faith. He chose not to. How is that God's fault? You complain if God forces us to do what we don't want to do, and complain if He allows us freedom to do what you don't like. Can't have it both ways.

Thu, 2011-10-06 16:30 — cheng (not verified)

This story reminds me of a story from the book of daniel.

Let's pray for this Holy man.

Sat, 2011-10-01 18:17 — Thaumaturgy (not verified)

@Mrs. Josephine
What does it mean to worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth, opposed to worshiping where our fathers worshiped? (John 4:19-26)
Where we worship is meaningless. Worship, a phenomenon all the Abrahamic faiths share, for the Christian, transcends topographical, generational boundaries. We are not worshiping correctly because we worship in Iran, Jerusalem, Samaria, or anywhere else on the planet. God is Spirit. There is no reason a Christian, Muslim, or Jew should be required to worship at any particular place forever. There is no reason Yousef and his family must remain in Iran; in fact, he must be extradited for a fair hearing. How can the international community and the United Nations not see this?

If truth is to be found, extradite the whole family and then find out the truth. This kangaroo court is establishing a conviction of death by hanging on the basis of hearsay. Did his parents claim to be Muslim? No. Yet the court has completed its investigation.

How would courts like those in China, Venezuela, Russia, Turkey, and others, handle this case? It certainly is imperative that his family in fact be examined. It is not even an investigation to make judgments based on hearsay, much less a trial.

Any trial over religion, at least using the West as a historical precedent, requires relaxation to the state itself by ecclesiastical authorities, whether Jewish, Muslim, or Christian. Can we even establish a Western precedent for a religious leader of any sort, putting an infidel to death? That would violate the oath any religious leader must make for the preservation of life.

Can Yousef even be relaxed to the state in an Islamic Republic? For a fair and impartial religious trial he must be extradited.

Wed, 2011-09-28 16:31 — foowzkaa

The first publication of this said Mr Nardarkhani is a Roman Catholic. This error was corrected immediately.

Apologies.

Sat, 2011-10-01 20:53 — Peter (not verified)

@Keir, can I just ask what your problem is that you feel the need to take over a discussion about such a grave and sad story by raising so many irrelevant points simply to prove that your theology is superior to other people's?

Wed, 2011-09-28 16:48 — Sean Jones (not verified)

I had to check my watch to see what century it was.

Wed, 2011-09-28 16:59 — BenSix (not verified)

As far as I'm aware it's Nadarkhani, David - no first "r".

I wouldn't blame the Pastor if he'd recanted his faith for the sake of his life with his family, but his refusal to acquiesce shows more courage and nobility than any of these grim, menial clerics could dream of.

Wed, 2011-09-28 17:03 — Dominic Sayers (not verified)

I wouldn't presume to advise a pastor on the imperatives of his faith, but the idea of recanting under duress has some precedent in the gospels. Indeed, St Peter did it three times before the cock crowed and went on to become head of the church.

I'm not trying to be facetious, just pointing out that God's forgiveness appears to be a fundamental part of Christianity, and I don't know where it says that you have take the martyrdom option when it is offered.

Christians revere those people who chose martyrdom over recanting but I don't believe it's compulsory. Mr Nardarkhani should recant if it saves his life.

Thu, 2011-09-29 16:38 — Kenisnotthemayor

Anyone prepared to die for their religion is a mental case & should be treated with the sympathy that all such cases ought to receive.

Wed, 2011-09-28 17:08 — foowzkaa

@BenSix

Corrected, with apologies.

Wed, 2011-09-28 17:18 — nathanaelshcwxtw

@Dominic Sayers: I don't see what that has to do with the point at issue. A state is threatening to murder one of its citizens for refusing to recant his religion. I don't see what difference it makes whether his religion would "allow" him to recant.

Wed, 2012-01-04 13:33 — Andyb (not verified)

@Brad

I agree with you on the first part of your rant. We are far too tolerant of islamist nonsense and encroachments on our most basic freedoms and rights.

However I take issue with this
"You lefties can go defend your Muslim masters but the far-right will never give up fighting against future tyranny. You should be ashamed of yourselves your tolerance is our downfall only the strong survive."

I am assuming you are an American. If this is the case, then you should be aware that the more fundamentalist evangelical christians in your country are not much better than these islamic barbarians. They are very numerous too. Is your "far right" fighting against these idiots as well? Idiots that are hellbent on denying civil rights to gays, on perverting the education system because of an unhealthy obsession with Charles Darwin, on denying women the right to proper familly planning services (a fight that has gone as far as shooting doctors and nurses).

Wed, 2011-09-28 17:25 — Andrew (not verified)

"public persecutor" seems appropriate. But not that long ago, religious infractions (such as heresy or blasphemy) were punished as criminal offences in the UK.

Do fatwas (rulings on points of Islamic law by Islamic scholars) form part of the law in Iran, in the way that courts in England and Wales (or indeed in other European jurisdictions) can take account of the writings of academics in determining points of law?

Sat, 2011-10-08 15:48 — Annette (not verified)

A picture was circulated on Friday October 10, showing Youcef Nadaarkhani standing at the gallows blindfolded, with a noose in front of him. Two armed and disguised men at his side.

Wed, 2011-09-28 17:28 — Matt Campbell (not verified)

This is an amazing man, a true hero! He is an inspiration to Christians. What a wake up call; This man is willing to give his life and we aren't even willing to give up our self image.

Wed, 2011-09-28 17:37 — Yewtree (not verified)

This is quite clearly an issue of freedom of religion, and of the wrongness of the death penalty. Yousef Nadarkhani should be allowed to practice his religion. I don't agree with proselytising, but executing someone for evangelising is way out of order.

No-one should be killed by the state for any reason whatsoever.

I hope that all the Christians concerned for Yousef Nadarkhani were also opposed to the recent hangings of gay men in Iran.