Yousef Nadarkhani was arrested in October of 2009 in the city of Rasht (Iran) because he was trying to register his church with the government. He is a husband and father of two children, as well as, an evangelical pastor with a congregation around 400. Iran has arrested many Christians in order to keep the country strictly focused on Islam. Yousef was convicted and sentenced to hanging. He was accused of being a "apostate" to Islam in November of last year. Yousef converted to Christianity when he was 19 years old. He appealed his sentencing, however, it was rejected in June of this year. Yousef was given the choice four times to change his mind to stop being a Christian and return to Islam. All four times he refused and pledged his loyalty to Christianity. His last chance to avoid execution was September 28, 2011 and I found his response important to include:
When asked to ‘repent’ by the judges, Youcef stated, ‘Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?’ The judges replied , ‘To the religion of your ancestors, Islam.’ To which he replied, ‘I cannot.’”
(Yousef Nadarkhani)
This case blatantly infringes on Yousef's right to freedom of religion. Individuals are given the right to practice the religion that they please. It is a violation of someone's human rights to execute he/she because he/she does not practice the faith of the majority in a country. Iran is known for being very strict with its Islamic faith but this sentencing has taken it too far. Specifically in Iran this is not only violating human rights, but Iran is a member of Covenant on Civil and Political Rights who work for rights not against.
Do you believe that Iran was just in their sentencing for Yousef? Why or why not?
http://www.bosnewslife.com/18352-breaking-news-iran-court-tells-pastor-recant-faith-or-face-execution
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/278631/yousef-nadarkhani-needs-international-support-nina-shea
When asked to ‘repent’ by the judges, Youcef stated, ‘Repent means to return. What should I return to? To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?’ The judges replied , ‘To the religion of your ancestors, Islam.’ To which he replied, ‘I cannot.’”
(Yousef Nadarkhani)This case blatantly infringes on Yousef's right to freedom of religion. Individuals are given the right to practice the religion that they please. It is a violation of someone's human rights to execute he/she because he/she does not practice the faith of the majority in a country. Iran is known for being very strict with its Islamic faith but this sentencing has taken it too far. Specifically in Iran this is not only violating human rights, but Iran is a member of Covenant on Civil and Political Rights who work for rights not against.
Do you believe that Iran was just in their sentencing for Yousef? Why or why not?
http://www.bosnewslife.com/18352-breaking-news-iran-court-tells-pastor-recant-faith-or-face-execution
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/278631/yousef-nadarkhani-needs-international-support-nina-shea
Iran needs to practice what it preaches. Iran was not justified in sentencing Yousef to death simply because he fought for his basic human right to freedom of religion. There is no sign of tolerance or respect of other religions in this country and some sort of justice must be sought for it. One way this could be done is if local NGO's or other groups (outside groups- the UN, for example, or other humanitarian groups) pressure the government to reform its laws or to support the passing of new laws which prohibit the punishment/death of people who differ in their faith from mainstream Islam. If we all agree that everyone around the world deserves fundamental human rights, such as freedom of religion in this case, then we must rally together so that Yousef's death serves as an example to everyone that we must stand up and fight for rights we all inherently have as human beings. We cannot simply stand by and become witnesses to the injustices that are ocurring within this country. How can we live with ourselves morally if we do nothing/or d not react to what happened to Yousef? What will happen to his family? What about other Christians in Iran? They surely will think twice now before attempting to practice their religion. No one should live in fear that they will be punished for wanting to practice their own religion.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. I hear several stories like this all the time. Unfortunately it comes from personal accounts rather than the news. Iran is creating an Islamic environment, and by acts like this, is clearing stating Christians are not welcome there. It is unfortunate that the people we are suppose to be practicing tolerance with, accept it from us, but then don't practice it themselves. It is convenient for them when they are away from their homes to have religious freedom but at home they show a different side. This leads me to think, do they really agree with freedom of religion or do they just preach tolerance so that the rest of the world can be fooled?
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of things wrong with the Iranian system. They preach freedom of religion, but they uphold such ridiculous laws as this one and kill a man for his beliefs. This is one of the many reasons that the United States is currently at odds with Iran and why they have been having uprisings of their own during the Arab Spring. I could never agree with the jailing and murdering of a person for their beliefs. That is why I am so against a growing number of legislations being past both in the Middle East and the West. Religious, racial, or gender intolerance is not acceptable in the modern world. I realize that it will take time for countries like Iran to reach a state in which they will be able to promote equality rather than suppression though.
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