Iran
Iran : Full Story of Youcef Nadarkhani
Youcef is 33 years old and is from Rasht, in the Gilan province of Iran. For the past ten years he has been a pastor in a network of house churches. He was previously imprisoned in December of 2006, the charges being apostasy (leaving Islam for Christianity) and evangelism (spreading the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ), but was released two weeks later.
He is married and has two sons, ages 8 and 6. They were attending a local school when the government decided that all children should be taught about Islam, including those from Christian families. Youcef went to the school and protested this based on the Iranian constitution, which allows for freedom to practice
religion. As a result, the secret police called him before the political tribunal in Rasht, Iran on October 12th of 2009. At that time he was arrested, charged for protesting, and has been in prison in Lakan (which is seven miles south of Rasht) ever since. Later the charges changed to apostasy and evangelism to Muslims.
Because Youcef's faith remained strong, they decided to arrest his wife in order to place more pressure on him. On June 18th, Fatemah Pasindedih was arrested and placed in prison in Lakan. His wife was put on trial without an attorney, and sentenced to life in prison. An attorney was later hired and the sentence appealed. The sentence and conviction were overturned and she was released.
On September 21nd and 22rd , Youcef was put on trial, and verbally given the sentence of death. Youcef was then transferred to the secret police security prison in Lakan. He is now being denied access to his family and attorney, while the authorities in the area are trying to hide the case and the situation from
the world.
It is critical that we continue to pray for pastor Youcef and make our voices heard. Please reach out to your elected officials and to the international news media so that Youcef's case will come to light.
Praise God that Youcef's faith has remained strong throughout his imprisonment and that Fatemah (his wife) was released without harm.
Pray that Iranian Christians will continue to courageously spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Iranian government will abide by the Iranian constitution, which allows for freedom to practice religion.
Youcef is 33 years old and is from Rasht, in the Gilan province of Iran. For the past ten years he has been a pastor in a network of house churches. He was previously imprisoned in December of 2006, the charges being apostasy (leaving Islam for Christianity) and evangelism (spreading the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ), but was released two weeks later.
He is married and has two sons, ages 8 and 6. They were attending a local school when the government decided that all children should be taught about Islam, including those from Christian families. Youcef went to the school and protested this based on the Iranian constitution, which allows for freedom to practice
religion. As a result, the secret police called him before the political tribunal in Rasht, Iran on October 12th of 2009. At that time he was arrested, charged for protesting, and has been in prison in Lakan (which is seven miles south of Rasht) ever since. Later the charges changed to apostasy and evangelism to Muslims.
Because Youcef's faith remained strong, they decided to arrest his wife in order to place more pressure on him. On June 18th, Fatemah Pasindedih was arrested and placed in prison in Lakan. His wife was put on trial without an attorney, and sentenced to life in prison. An attorney was later hired and the sentence appealed. The sentence and conviction were overturned and she was released.
On September 21nd and 22rd , Youcef was put on trial, and verbally given the sentence of death. Youcef was then transferred to the secret police security prison in Lakan. He is now being denied access to his family and attorney, while the authorities in the area are trying to hide the case and the situation from
the world.
It is critical that we continue to pray for pastor Youcef and make our voices heard. Please reach out to your elected officials and to the international news media so that Youcef's case will come to light.
Praise God that Youcef's faith has remained strong throughout his imprisonment and that Fatemah (his wife) was released without harm.
Pray that Iranian Christians will continue to courageously spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Iranian government will abide by the Iranian constitution, which allows for freedom to practice religion.
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