White House, State Department condemn Iran on pastor’s execution orders

Washington (CNN) - Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Christian charged with leaving Islam, has received a local trial courts final verdict, according to sources close to his legal team, and may now be executed for leaving Islam.

Jodran Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, said he was informed on Monday by the pastor’s legal team that the final execution order had been issued. At this point, said Sekulow, the pastor could be executed without the legal team’s knowledge.

The White House issued a pointed statement on Thursday, strongly condemning the reports and renewed calls for Iranian authorities to release the pastor.

“This action is yet another shocking breach of Iran’s international obligations, its own constitution, and stated religious values,” stated a release by the White House. “The United States stands in solidarity with Pastor Nadarkhani, his family, and all those who seek to practice their religion without fear of persecution-a fundamental and universal human right. “

FULL ARTICLE FROM CNN

Malaysian Muslims Denounce Christian Conversion Efforts

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia – About 2,000 slogan-shouting Malaysian Muslims gathered near the capital on Saturday to denounce alleged Christian attempts to convert Muslims, widening a religious rift that could cost Prime Minister Najib Razak minority votes in upcoming polls.

The rally led by non-governmental bodies comes amid an escalating row over accusations of covert conversions among Muslims and a raid on a Methodist church, which has divided Muslims and angered ethnic minorities.

Men, women and families gathered in a stadium in a suburb outside Kuala Lumpur to unite against what they said were attempts to evangelize Muslims, an offence in a country where over half the population follows Islam.

“We have gathered today to save the faith of Muslims due to the threat of apostasy,” Yusri Mohamad, chairman of the organising committee, told the crowd.

FULL ARTICLE FROM GMANEWS

Religious Law for the Modern World

By Anthony Stevens-Arroyo

Many of us have long thought the world had become liberal enough to stop execution of persons for practicing their religion.

Yet, modernity is confronted with this religious issue because Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian convert to Christianity now faces a governmental threat of execution. Attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt by Muslim groups is another troubling, if less dramatic example of intolerance towards Christianity in Islamic countries. while in the United States,Mormonism is held suspect and Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich have adopted positions denying American Muslims of equal rights in this country. We hold religious freedom as a nearly sacred right. But what happens when practicing your religion prevents someone else from practicing theirs? When two sets of religious rights clash, deciding between them usually requires the Wisdom of Solomon – but a “cut the baby in half” approach (1Kings 3:16-28} often results in tragic decisions.

FULL ARTICLE FROM THE WASHINGTON POST 

Iran’s Death Penalty for Christian Pastor Violates the Qur’an

In Iran, Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani faces the death penalty for the “crime” of leaving Islam as a teenager and converting to Christianity. A translated Iranian Supreme Court brief from 2010 states that 32-year-old Nadarkhani “is convicted of turning his back on Islam, the greatest religion, the prophesy of Mohammad at the age of 19.” While there is widespread public outcry of support for his specific case, some are speaking broadly about the punishment for apostasy. Many — Muslim and non-Muslim — mistakenly believe that Islam supports this barbaric practice.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Islam prescribes absolutely no punishment for apostasy. If one were to assume that Islam prescribes some sort of punishment for a person who chooses to leave Islam, that would invariably mean that Islam forces one to be a Muslim against their will. But chapter two of the Holy Quran emphatically denies this possibility, stating “there shall be no compulsion in religion.” This is an unambiguous declaration protecting freedom of conscience and choice.

FULL ARTICLE FROM THE HUFFINGTON POST