{"id":1035,"date":"2012-09-10T18:42:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-10T18:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/iranian-pastor-freed-after-three-years-acquitted-of-apostasy-charges\/"},"modified":"2012-09-10T18:42:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-10T18:42:00","slug":"iranian-pastor-freed-after-three-years-acquitted-of-apostasy-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/09\/iranian-pastor-freed-after-three-years-acquitted-of-apostasy-charges\/","title":{"rendered":"Iranian pastor freed after three years, acquitted of apostasy charges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Sep 10, 2012 \/ 12:42 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Amid continued pressure from the international community, Christian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been released from an Iranian prison after nearly three years of facing the threat of execution for his religion.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cToday marks a day of celebration,\u201d said the American Center for Law and Justice in a Sept. 10 statement. \u201cYour prayers, your advocacy, and your voice has been heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe organization hailed the pastor\u2019s release as \u201can example of how the world can join together to ensure that justice is served and freedom preserved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tNadarkhani had been in jail since 2009, when he was arrested after he complained to local authorities about his son being forced to read the Quran at school. He was found guilty of abandoning Islam, the faith of his ancestors, and ordered to recant or face execution.<\/p>\n

\tHowever despite repeated threats, he refused to renounce his Christian beliefs. In February, reports surfaced that an execution order may have been issued for the pastor.<\/p>\n

\tThe American Center for Law and Justice has worked in recent months to keep the international spotlight on the Nadarkhani\u2019s situation, warning that this is critical because executions in Iran are often carried out secretly.<\/p>\n

\tThe organization also ran a Twitter initiative to raise awareness about the Christian pastor\u2019s plight, ultimately reaching more than 3 million accounts.<\/p>\n

\tAs international attention grew, the Iranian regime was faced with mounting pressure from countries around the world, as well as the U.N. Special Rapporteur for human rights, who called for Nadarkhani\u2019s release at a March 12 meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.<\/p>\n

\tKey among Iran\u2019s critics was the nation of Brazil, which maintains both a strong Christian culture and an important economic relationship with Iran.<\/p>\n

\tNadarkhani was summoned to appear in an Iranian court on Sept. 8. Reports indicated that after a six hour hearing, he was acquitted of his apostasy charge and allowed to return to his family.<\/p>\n

\tHowever, sources told the American Center for Law and Justice that the pastor was also charged and convicted with \u201cevangelizing to Muslims,\u201d a crime for which he was sentenced to three years in prison. The court ruled that his past three years in jail counted as filling this sentence. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\tThe Christian pastor\u2019s release was welcomed by U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThis comes after nearly three harrowing years during which he faced a death penalty sentence on charges of apostasy \u2013 in clear violation of Iran's international human rights commitments,\u201d she said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cDespite this welcome news, the status of religious freedom in Iran remains grave,\u201d Nuland acknowledged. \u201cMany more Iranians remain in prison and face persecution simply because of their faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tShe called for the \u201cimmediate release\u201d of these individuals and said that the U.S. \u201cwill continue to stand with the people of Iran who struggle to have their fundamental human rights respected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe American Center for Law and Justice encouraged continued prayer for Nadarkhani\u2019s safety as he is reunited with his wife and two young children.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cInternational attention to this matter saved this man\u2019s life,\u201d the group said, \u201cbut we must not forget the human right of freedom of religion includes the right to freedom of expression.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tWhile it praised the pastor\u2019s release, it added that \u201cwe must recognize that Iran felt obligated to save face among its people and continue its pattern of suppressing religious freedom with intimidation tactics.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

\tThe organization is now focusing its efforts on a global 48 Hours for Religious Freedom initiative on Sept. 21-22. The event is aiming to raise worldwide awareness about those who are being persecuted for their religion. Participants are urged to plan activities within their own faith traditions, such as special worship services and candlelight vigils.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cWe must also not forget the numerous other religious minorities in Iran who are imprisoned and face persecution for their faith,\u201d the group stressed.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Washington D.C., Sep 10, 2012 \/ 12:42 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Amid continued pressure from the international community, Christian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been released from an Iranian prison after nearly three years of facing the threat of execution …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nIranian pastor freed after three years, acquitted of apostasy charges<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Washington D.C., Sep 10, 2012 \/ 12:42 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Amid continued pressure from the international community, Christian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been released from an Iranian prison after nearly three years of facing the threat of execution ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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