This seems a huge story to me, but has been ignored by all but conservative media outlets. Apparently, an Iranian pastor may soon be executed for apostasy because he refuses to recant his Christian faith. Here’s the story from the Get Religion blog, by the eminently responsible Terry Mattingly . Here’s the press release from Christian Solidarity, which states in part:
Pastor Nadarkhani was tried and found guilty of apostasy (abandoning Islam) in September 2010 by the court of appeals in Rasht. The verdict was delivered verbally in court, while written confirmation of the death sentence was received nearly two months later. At the appeal in June 2011, the Supreme Court of Iran upheld Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s sentence, but asked the court in Rasht, which issued the initial sentence, to re-examine whether or not he had been a practicing Muslim adult prior to converting to Christianity. The written verdict of the Supreme Court’s decision included provision for annulment of the death sentence if Pastor Nadarkhani recanted his faith.
According to Nina Shea at The Corner , Pastor Nadarkhani has now refused for a third time to recant.
I have been in Paris and seen demonstrations against the death penalty for Mumia Abu Jamal, convicted of killing a police officer. Where is the outrage over a pending execution of a man who has committed no crime, but refuses to deny Christ? And, as Mattingly so cogently asks, where are the news media?
