UK FOREIGN SECRETARY DENOUNCES IRAN’S PERSECUTION OF EVANGELICAL PASTOR

This by Cranmer's Curate appeared on US-based orthodox Anglican news service VirtueOnline:

The UK Foreign Secretary the Right Honourable William Hague MP has intervened in the case of evangelical pastor Youcef Nadarkhani facing execution by Iran’s Supreme Court.

British religio-political blogger Archbishop Cranmer yesterday contacted the UK Foreign Office about the plight of Pastor Nadarkhani, an evangelical house church leader who is married with two young sons.

Cranmer reports that within an hour Mr Hague issued the following statement: “I deplore reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the Supreme Court of Iran to recant his faith. This demonstrates the Iranian regime’s continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom. I pay tribute to the courage shown by Pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence.”

Cranmer today reported that Pastor Nadarkhani appeared before Iran's Supreme Court for the third time and was asked to recant his faith in Christ.

“For the third time, he refused. His lawyer presented the final defence and we are presently awaiting further news. Sources indicate that the judges could take up to a week to issue their decision on the implementation of the death sentence. However, they reserve the right to effect execution within a shorter period of time should they so desire. There is a real concern that the death sentence could be implemented without any official announcement at all.”