BJC Blog RSS Feeds
Home arrow Events arrow Calendar
Jailed Pastor Released in Iran E-mail
Written by Don Byrd   
Sunday, 09 September 2012

A Christian pastor jailed in Iran has been released, according to Associated Press.

A statement by the U.S. Commission of International Religious Freedom says it welcomes the release of Youcef Nadarkhani and urges Iran to free other “prisoners of conscience.”
...
International rights groups said he faced the death sentence for refusing to renounce his Christian faith after he converted from Islam as a teenager.

Nadarkhani has been imprisoned since 2009. Last year, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed concern for him, calling the court proceedings "A sham," "contrary to Iranian law and international human rights standards." 

In February of this year, the White House announced solidarity with Pastor Nadarkhani and called on Iran to release him.

 
 
Is the Endorsement Test on the Chopping Block?
The Supreme Court's decision earlier this week to take up the issue of legislative prayer for the first time in 30 years leaves many questions about the future of the government prayer balance. Veteran reporter Lyle Deniston considers what this decision likely means in a new essay for Constit...
 
State Department Issues Annual Religious Freedom Report
Yesterday, Secretary Kerry released the 2012 International Religious Freedom Report, a yearly update, mandated by Congress, on the status of religious freedom in every country in the world. You can read the report, and browse countries by name at this State Department site. Watch Secretary K...