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 Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani shown in an Iranian prison.
September 29th, 2011
06:58 AM ET
U.S. condemns Iranian pastor's convictionBy Dan Merica, CNN Washington (CNN) - The White House Thursday condemned the conviction of an Iranian pastor, who may be executed in Tehran for refusing to recant his religious beliefs and convert from Christianity to Islam. Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani "has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for people," a White House spokesman said in a statement. "That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency and breaches Iran's own international obligations." The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent advisory group appointed by the president and Congress to monitor religious freedom around the world, Wednesday expressed "deep concern" for Nadarkhani, the head of a network of Christian house churches in Iran. After four days of an appeals trial for apostasy, Nadarkhani refused to recant his beliefs, the commission said. Chairman Leonard Leo said the pastor "is being asked to recant a faith he has always had. Once again, the Iranian regime has demonstrated that it practices hypocritical barbarian practices." While the trial is closed to the press, Leo said the commission collects information from sources in Iran and around the world. The commission's statement also called the trial a sham and said Iran is violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is a party. "A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens," the White House statement said. "We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion." Nadarkhani was first sentenced to death in November 2010, the commission said, and in order to avoid the death penalty, he is being asked to recant his beliefs and convert to Islam. Leo said an apostasy trial is rare in Iran; the last occurred in 1990. Iran's claim stems from the pastor's Muslim parents. According to Leo, the court needed to verify if Nadarkhani had ever been a Muslim. In order to be given what Iran claims is the opportunity to recant his beliefs, Nadarkhani must have never been a Muslim before the age of 15, Leo said. Because he was given the opportunity during the four-day trial, it is apparent that the Iranian court found he was never a Muslim and therefore Nadarkhani could have converted. According to a source close to the situation within the Commission on International Religious Freedom, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, would have to sign off on the execution. Speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the subject's sensitivity, the source said such cases in Iran are difficult because of the lack of transparency in leaders' decision-making. The source also said that in the past, political prisoners have had their prison time and punishment reduced by the Iranian government. Though they did not say that was guaranteed in this situation, the source indicated it was a possibility. The American Center for Law and Justice, a right-leaning organization founded by television evangelist Pat Robertson, reported Wednesday night that Nadarkhani's death sentence had been overturned, meaning that the pastor would be receiving a lesser punishment. They sourced the claim to someone in Iran. Those reports could not be independently verified by CNN. The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the United Nations failed to comment on the ruling. Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the ACLJ, said the outcry from Christians in America has been loud and sustained. "American Christians, like never before, are engaged in this," Sekulow said. "This is evidence that Christians in America over the past decade have done a better job engaging in the persecution issue." soundoff (2,425 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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petercha is the reason the christian should die
And so should yo mama
Well come on and get you some.
all who whorship should have there frontal lopes taken completely out, they don't use it anyway! for examples search palin!
Yet more hatred and intolerance, eh, hippy?
Hippypoet just called me and ask me out and I hung up on him, he is ungodly liberal evil
Hippy, if you can't spell nor use proper grammar, why should anyone listen to your ignorant comments? You said a bunch of times that you can't spell... Then stop posting!
*sigh*
Why do christians still live in iran, and then get surprised when the extremists behave in an extreme manner? i'm going to help you here: THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HATES EVERYBODY WHO ISN'T ON THEIR TEAM! THEY WILL MAIM, STEAL AND KILL YOU IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY. now...all smart people stay away from them.
This man was born and brought up in Iran. He converted to Christianity. He shouldn't have to move for that reason alone.
To Iranian government,
You just show the world that Islam is a false (dictator) religion.
Free Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani now!
Pastor Youcef, may the lord trinity grant you Peace, Love, and Strength on your journey.
No, Christians must be shown as they are. A cancer to the world.
"I am Justice"
You got me laughing so hard i am crying here – thanks for the laugh and keep stirring things up for fun..! most people who get mad on these boards don't know how hard some people are laughing at them!
Can't tell if I AM Justice is just a troll or a True Believer. Not sure which is worse, either.
Christians and Jews are better than Islam if only because they have learned to ignore 80% of the crap dogma in their holy text. Islam will either undergo a split into Orthodox and Reformed, or it will be stamped out. But the longer it holds to this silly text as being written by a diety and being 100% true, the less relevant and the further behind Islam becomes – and the more dangerous.
LOL @ America. They murder hundreds of thousands in their wars. And then they act all holier than thou and start criticizing. Hypocrites! Seriously. Who listens to anything America says anymore? If you have money to hand out, America, hand it out. But if you have anything to say, please shut up.
We have EVERY right to defend ourselves in the War on Terror. If muslims had not brought down the towers on 9/11, we wouldn't be in Afghanistan, now would we?
petercha
Tell that to the 300,000 Iranians you killed.
Leave it to the Christians to invade the wrong country, and think they can pretend it never happened.
That is unless your Bible explains why GWB had to invade?
You mean then they expect tolerance from a closed-minded islamic state. That's America's only mistake here. To tolerate dark-ages based thinking.
The only thing you get from Islam is people flying planes into buildings. Want proof? See the guy arrested just yesterday for planning to do it again.
I just want them to send their little boats over here!
Our government knows no God. They threw Him out a long time ago.
I have never killed ANYONE.
William Demuth – you are referring to the Iran-Iraq war with 300,000 Iranians killed that was in 1984 and, assuming it is correct which is a BIG IF, included the use of Chemical Weapons for which the USA eventually went in and took Out Saddam.
Which side are you on, anyway? You want to blame the USA for Islam's war, and then when the USA took out that war criminal to prevent it from happening again you blame the USA again?? Here's your sign.
All humans should die for the sins of their fathers
WRONG!!!! Each person is responsible for their sins only. NOT the sins of anyone else, PERIOD.
Peter. Then get rid of the front section of your christian bible. You know, the TORAH
Actually, "Justice" (and you don't sound very just at all to me), what I am paraphrasing is from that part of the Bible.
Christian words of hate from the gospels:
Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Petercha – read that very very first part of the bible. You konw, Genesis? Pay particular attention to the parts about Adam and Eve and the fall, and then read the rest of us to see how the bible teaches us that we are ALL suffering for the sins of our original father.
Deuteronomy 24:16 (NKJV)
“Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin."
Really, Petercha?
What about Exodus 20:5
... I the lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation.
For every statement in the Bible there's another that contradicts it. Why this book remains relevant confuses the heck out of me.
Well, then, HA, if that's the way GOD wants to do it, then He has the right to do it that way. We do not, and we should not, period. Unless, of course, you want to go to jail for something that someone else did.
Peter, I would not ever compare Biblical law of any kind with the real world and the laws of men. Never should any law of men in this world be based on any of the contradictory, masochististic, ignorant and murderous laws of the Torah, Bible, or Quran. I'd rather we base our laws on those of the Jedi if we need to find some mystical basis.
I wonder what the score is.
My guess is for every innocent Christian or Jew that dies, at least 250 or so innocent Muslims do.
Does that seem like a reasonable esitmate?
This latest abomination is just the Muslims trying to get back on the board.
It's a hell of a lot easier then getting into Bagram with a suicide vest!
Can you tell me what Christians or Jews are killing muslims in the name of Christ or Judaism? Didn't think so.
You live the sins of your fathers. You are a sinner. Your fathers were sinners. All guilty. All deserving of the ultimate punishment
petercha
Ummmmmm, wait for it, wait for it:::::::::::::::::::::::ALL OF THEM SILLY!
The ONLY difference between a Jew and a Palestinian is which fake God they worship.
It is THE reason they kill each other.
And if our invasion of Iraq wasn't religious, what was it?
If it was the ol, why didn't we keep it?
Christians are killing in the name of Cheap Oil.
Reading these posts makes me disgusted with people... How can you joke about this and say you want to watch a video of his head being chopped off? You people need help. Seriously. Seek help.
thank you for not saying seek god or jesus, cause we would be looking for a very long time! it could be the christian scavanger hunt! and again i no i can't spell!
hippy, I do believe in God and I believe He is easy to find if you just pray to Him.
Roy – if He is answering you – you really may want to seek help.
If you're such a true believer try this one – let's use Mt. Fuji. See if you and your family can cast it into the sea:
And Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:21-22 NAS)
It amazes me how Christians allow others to choose what religion they Like but Muslims think they have to kill people who are not muslims. Yet we wonder why American(s) are not receptive to Islam. Evidence number 1 is infront of you. Religion is a personal between you and God and NO MAN BORN OF A WOMAN has the right to act like God or act on his behalf. Leave it to God to Judge and Condemn. Killing and Innocent man for following his Belief is Pure Non sense.
Amen, Peter
AMAZES ME HOW YOUR CHRIST HAD NO TOLERANCE OF THOSE THAT WERE NOT LIKE HIM
Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Jesus committed jihad on the Israelites
Jesus was God the Son. Being morally perfect, He had the right to be tolerant or intolerant as He saw fit. Plus He gives EVERYONE the opportunity to accept Him.
Why is it that people keep thinking that acts like these are indicative of religion. Get a clue and get a history book. Iran is doing tihs, not Islam. There are plenty of peaceful muslims and peaceful predominantly islamic countries who defend freedom of religion. And there used to be plenty of christian nations that did exactly what Iran is doing. How do you think Christianity spread so fast in the Roman Empire after Constantine?
Of course, we could just do away with all this nonsense and be much better off, but I won't be holding my breath.
I agree!!!
jesus was a blaspheming rebel and liar. All his followers have a day with God Creator coming
Morally Perfect, Petercha? You probably also believe the Pope is infallible...
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)
So which is it – Jesus is perfect means Slavery is OK...
Hope they film the decapitation
Go to hell u liberal skum
Maybe he gets his head chopped off? Will this be on video?
my thoughts of religion and religious people – wasted time and space and money... but further more – i view religious beliefs to be circling the drain and untill the final flush we will endure crap forced upon us in schools, at the super markets, at soccer games, and my personal most hated of all – family outtings! it infests, breeds confusion to our children, questions that can only be answered by making up more...just like santa clause – and yes there is no santa in my home as well. so religion is nothing but a washed up turd floating in the world its has helpped form and let decay and then finally slip away from its grip – the only reason why the heads of religion have been campaining, is they sense there own demise!
so my view is simply this- belief can stay at home, in a shoe box filled with the toys and dreams of a child and left there to become dusty and forgotton like the myths of our ancestors.
now as for this dude, let him die as a citizen of the country whose laws he willfully broke! later dude.
Your hatred and intolerance are simply amazing, hippy.
You are saying let this guy die and it's religious people that are the waste of time and space? Wow... there are some seriously messed up people in this world...
I agree. NOT my problem. I never met the dude and he lives on the other side of the damn planet.
Hey now... don't dis Santee Clause!
The rest is accurate though. Santa is a good way to train kids that eventually "faith is bull". When they find out the guy in the red suit isn't real after all, they question the magic giant in the sky also, which is the correct behavior for growing up. Something that Christians and Muslims do not do.
Ross, you are the very definition of selfish.
sorry john, but i can't lie to my kids, i may stretch the truth or change the topic as to not lie but i will never and have never lied to my kids.. or wife for that matter! santa is a gaint lie that has gone well beyond the 1800's poem written about a small sneeky elf who BREAKS in to homes to leave STOLEN gifts for the under privlaged.. again can't spell, move on!
Your writting is poor and too, you might consider accepting Jesus as your savior. You then wouldn't feel so poorly about your life and perhaps you might even contribute to society. Poor hippypoet.
petercha – there is nothing hateful about telling the truth.
To act like we have to save this one guy because he's christian yet not the muslim women who are constantly beheaded and mutilated.. That's what is hypocritical and self-centered. At least Hippy and Ross are consistent and practical.
If you and the other religilous nutjobs are so focused on saving people – get rid of religion altogether. That will save more people's lives then any other single thing you can do. Instantly the jewish/palestinian question disappears; so does all of Iran's issues; India and Pakistan will be friends and half of Africa will be solved as will the killing in the Baltics.
And what's wrong with being selfish? I have more money in the bank than most people I know, my car is paid for, I don't have kids, I love my job and when I wake up I feel grate (sometimes hungover...) lol. I don't have time for other peoples problems to bring my down
What will happen if I am as a muslim, pretend to be a christian (and no one knows I am a muslim), then study christianity, then become a "False" pastor, then people in the church will love me soo much, and then I will announce to the world that I convert to islam becasue chrsitianity is non-sense, what will happen to those who believed in me, Many of them will start doubting christianity..right?? that is exactly why islam prevent someone who is a muslim to convert to any other religion, to stop people from doing that sort of act. If a muslim for some reason want to convert to any other religion then who cares, he doesn't have to tell people he is not muslim, he can practice any religion he wants, it is a relationship between him and god, do people need to know what he believes. There are millions of people convert to islam everyday, and media doesn't mention that, but when one muslim convert to any other religion then all people talk about him, no wonder, becasue Media talks only about weird things, and a muclim leaving the truth is a weird thing.... May Allah guide all mankind to the right path. Aameen.
Pretend to die and we will cremate you
ABD ALLAH IS THE DEVIL AND THE PASTOR WAS NEVER A MUSLIM, U NEED JESUS CHRIST
"ABD ALLAH IS THE DEVIL AND THE PASTOR WAS NEVER A MUSLIM, U NEED JESUS CHRIST"
and you need to lay off the crack pipe and the caps lock.
Jesus christ couldn't protect himself, how can he protect you ?
Go do some research on number of members each cult has and where they come from. Almost no one converts, with most conversions bing to "none." Most members are accidents of birth location, birth rates and parental indoctrination.
The way christians are trying to spread christianity is by encouraging christians to adopt kids from poor countries, and by taking chinese students for shopping when they come to the US as studnents, then they take them to church, and by going to poor countries in Africa, give them food and build churches for them, and yet MUSLIMS do nothing in this regard and they don't spend a penny on that, and number of people convert to islam is ten thousands times more that those who are tricked to be christians..... you do the research man, at least no muslims are born without marriage, and almost 60% of americans are born without marriage, just tell me, is this christianity !!!?
TRUTH HERE, GET YOUR TRUTH HERE.... BUY ONE GET A LIFE FREE!
TRUTH HERE, GET YOUR TRUTH HERE!
COME TO ME FOR THE TRUTH AND I'LL TOSS YOU SOME PHILOSOPHY AS WELL. DON'T GO TO HELL, GET WELL, GET THE TRUTH, TRUTH HERE!
yell much?
i'm at a game selling truth, the game is " religion seriously" its on all day long, but if fears the night!
yeah..sure *rolls eyes*
Good old america sticking its nose were it doesn't belong...when are we going to start taking care of our own country and ignore these other fools?
So you think it's perfectly OK for someone to be executed for their beliefs alone? What if that were you? Wouldn't you want someone to speak up for you?
Peter...i dont think any one is saying its ok to kill some one based on their beliefs...well maybe a few here. But what one country does is none of our business. They have a theocracy and no religious freedoms.
Clay, while I might say that about a country that we are friends with, like Israel or England, say, (I believe in being LOYAL to one's friends – if correction is necessary, it should be done privately), I certainly would NOT say that about a country like Iran. We have every right and we should use that right to publicly oppose them in any way that they are doing wrong.
You all jealous of me – haha hahaha
There goes Iran being an "advanced" "developed" society.
And they say Islam is a tolerant religion. Islam is the devil's religion
No devil in Torah. Perverted jews and christians believe in devils
Amen, Nelk.
They are tolerant as long as you are Islamic, everyone else has to die.
So, countless similar acts have been committed in the name of Christianity since it's inception, Christianity is the devil's religion as well, correct?
@gay republican
so, you said go to hell, but since gods are fake, and that makes hell/heaven also fake, where am i to go? oh and just a thought here but isn't be a gay republican kinda an oxi-moron?
Are u hot?
If u are I guess I could be a democrat for a day or two
gsy republican should be banned from these postings. stop the harrassment please.
are we playing find the ball? i think thats the popes favorite game! last i checked he was a murdering nazi anyway, so you and him have fun!
"last i checked he was a murdering nazi anyway, so you and him have fun!"
How about you check something called facts next time. Unless you are foolish enough to think being in a children's group makes you a part of a political party haha.
yes i did say he was a nazi and being a nazi at first was only and just a party like the dems. or the rep. here .. true, but they GROW INTO SOMETHING evil... and from that came your pope! thats a fact!
My Pope?? Your twit, I'm not Catholic...lol.
And no..he wasn't a Nazi. No more than a 14 could be a Democrat or Republican.
The only facts here is that the Pope was a part of the Hitler Youth. He was not a Nazi. There is no evidence that being in that organization ever made him "evil"..whatever you exactly mean by that.
Hippy...how about trying to stick with relevant information. I am sure you can come up with real reasons not to care for the current Pope than jumping on the tea-party style bandwagon of crazy.
Roy 456, u r ugly and mean and FAT
Interesting how obvious and blatant intollerance, injustice and outright hatred can provoke exactly the same amongst those who proclaim to abhore it.
Tell me about it. Liberals constantly preach love and tolerance, yet they show very little love or tolerance for Conservatives or fundamentalist Christians.
Good for the pastor for not giving up on his beliefs when faced with death. If everyone had this amount of integrity, the world would be a better place.
Amen, Dave.