BY RYAN JONES, ISRAEL TODAY—
The international community was furious when it learned that Iran was going to execute a young man for converting to Christianity and wanting to start a church. So Iran on Sunday altered the charges and said it is instead going to execute Youcef Nadarkhani because, among other things, he loves Israel.
Nadarkhani was arrested and convicted in 2010. Legal documents obtained by CNN accused Nadarkhani of “turning his back on Islam, the greatest religion…”
In Iran, the punishment for apostacy is death.
But with pressure mounting for Iran to cease its brutal repression of religious freedom, Gholomali Rezvani, the deputy governor of Nadarkhani’s home province, announced that the charges had been changed.
“His crime is not, as some claim, converting others to Christianity. He is guilty of security-related crimes,” Rezvani told the Fars news agency.
And what kind of security-related crimes had Nadarkhani committed? He “is a Zionist,” declared Rezvani. And just in case, Nadarkhani also had charges of rape and extortion tacked on to his rap sheet. Both CNN and Fox News later pointed out that the original 2010 court ruling did not contain one mention of rape or extortion.
He still needs our prayers.
god is is with this young man he will have is reward, in heaven the new heaven , what has now happened to this young man?
Thank you for this prayer Marsha. I have been thinking and praying for him as well. I am so glad though that Christians are paying attention to this.
I have been covering Youcef and his family with prayer since this first hit the media. Look at Youcef’s face and eyes……I see no evil—-NONE—only goodness. Heavenly Father, move Heaven and Earth for Youcef and his family. YOU are Greater than His adversaries…..Arise, O GOD, and let his enemies be scattered! I pray this as humbly as I know how, in the name of Yeshua. amen and amen