New trial for Iranian pastor sentenced to death for apostasy

August 20, 2012

The Iranian Protestant pastor whose 2010 death sentence on charges of apostasy was not carried out following an international outcry faces a new trial on charges of banditry and extortion.

Youcef Nadarkhani, now 33, converted from Islam at the age of 19. In 2011, Iran’s Supreme Court ruled that charges against Nadarkhani could be dropped if he reverted to Islam, but he refused to do so.

 

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Further information:

• Youcef Nadarkhani Receives New Court Summons, Iran Evades Mention of Apostasy Charge (Christian Post)
• “Banditry and Extortion” Replace “Apostasy” Charges for Christian Pastor (International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran)
• Iran pressures jailed pastor to revert to Islam (CWN, 11/8/11)