A Pastor Sentenced to Death Update

Iran delaying decision on fate of Christian pastor

Court rules verdict won't come for another year

An Iranian court has said it will delay a final verdict on the case of imprisoned Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani for a year.

Previous reports said that Nadarkhani's case – he's accused of leaving Islam and could be sentenced to death – would be decided in mid-December by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Khameini. Khameini has not announced a decision.

Pastor Nadakhani was arrested and convicted of apostasy in 2009 for allegedly leaving Islam, a charge he denied by saying that he was never a Muslim.

International Christian Concern's Aidan Clay says the delay in a decision is a careful but deliberate decision by Iran's judiciary.

"Recent reports indicate that the presiding judge over Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani's case was ordered by the head of the judiciary to postpone the announcement of Youcef's verdict for another year, meaning Youcef will remain in prison," Clay said.

Clay adds that even a month ago, the Iranians were promising a decision by the middle of this month.

"Only a month ago, the court said it would make a decision by mid-December. The court had handed the decision over to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, following fervent international pressure in October. Whether or not Khamenei made a decision is not known, but the verdict that was expected to be announced in the coming days has instead been put off once again," Clay said.

Clay believes the real reason for the delay is that the Iranians are hoping human rights groups will forget about the Iranian pastor.

"Undoubtedly, authorities are hoping that the international community will forget about Youcef altogether. However, up until now, that has not been the case as international attention continues to grow. On December 9, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for Youcef’s immediate and unconditional release," Clay said.

"Her statement followed the demands of others, including Britain, Canada, France, Mexico, and a European Parliament resolution. Groups like the ACLJ have done an outstanding job by acquiring hundreds of thousands of signatures on a petition to raise awareness of Youcef’s plight," Clay said.

"There is no doubt that the considerable amount of attention on the case has played a vital role in keeping Youcef alive," Clay said.

Clay believes the Iranians will use the time to accomplish their main objective – to get the pastor to deny his faith.

"Iranian authorities will clearly use the lengthened imprisonment and the extensive amount of pressure it entitles to attempt to persuade Youcef to recant his Christian faith," Clay said.