Update on our persecuted Brethren in Iran

"We focus on the present Truth – what Jesus is doing now.

Christian greetings in the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

December 8, 2010 — Attorney Dr. Nasser Sarbazi has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Iran in behalf of Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani who has been sentenced to death for apostasy. Their decision will be announced without a hearing, and as there is no specific time frame in which this decision must be made it is imperative that we earnestly pray for Brother Youcef and the officials making the decision, particularly as the Western festive season may be deemed a suitable distraction from the outcome of an adverse decision.

Australian-born human rights lawyer, Dr. Geoffrey Robertson QC wrote an article for the Sydney Morning Herald in June of this year describing the 1988 non-trial and hanging of thousands of Marxists, Communists and members of other political groups who had been born Muslim but did not believe in the official version of Islam, and were deemed apostate.

According to Wikipedia, Amnesty International recorded the names of 4,482 political prisoners reportedly killed during this time, but Iranian opposition groups suggest the number of prisoners executed was far higher, and that as many as 30,000 prisoners may have been executed.

Here is a link to the "Report of an Inquiry into the 1988 Massacre in Iran" prepared by one time war crimes Appeals Judge for the UN, Dr. Robertson, and published by The Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation. (The QC has cut short his Sydney holiday and returned to London to defend arrested Wikileaks' founder, Mr. Julian Assange).

From these files you will appreciate the gravity of the situation faced by these valient soldiers of Christ. At last the media has begun to report on the plight of Pastors Youcef Nadarkhani and Behrouz Sadegh-Khanjani. Here is a link to the story, "In Iran, a Christian pastor faces death sentence," published by CNN. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has also published an article, "Unprecedented Death Sentence for Christian Pastor on Charge of Apostasy," calling for the release of Brothers Youcef and Behrouz.

Remain faithful in prayer, continue to write to your Member of Parliament, Congressman, the media, sign this petition which names our other Iranian Brethren incarcerated for the faith, and e-mail or Fax the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, + 98 21 774 2228; His Excellency the President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Fax: + 98 21 649 5880, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki, Fax: + 98 21 390 1999, requesting the release and remission of all charges against these loyal Iranians desiring freedom of worship as guaranteed under the Iranian Constitution.

Psalm 124:6-8, "Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: THE SNARE IS BROKEN, and we are escaped. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth".

ENDS

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