“The truth remains that Youcef's death sentence will only be overturned if he recants,” says Jason DeMars of the Minneapolis-based Present Truth Ministries (www.presenttruthmn.com ), after the Iranian Supreme Court’s action in sending the case back to a lower court for review.

It is understood that the death sentence hanging over Nadarkhani will be annulled only if he recants his faith in Christ. But confusion stems from the Supreme Court’s unusual move in this case.

DeMars explained that the court normally affirms the lower court’s decision or overrules it. However, in this case the upper court did neither, but instead put the condition of recantation upon Youcef’s stay of execution.

DeMars says the US State Department has issued several statements condemning Iran for the pastor’s death sentence, Canada’s Foreign Minister has demanded his release, and a Member of the European Parliament, Arie Slob, has done the same.

In a July 6 Press Statement, Victoria Nuland, a State Department spokesperson, said: “We are dismayed over reports that the Iranian courts are requiring Youcef Nadarkhani to recant his Christian faith or face the death penalty for apostasy -- a charge based on his religious beliefs. If carried out, it would be the first execution for apostasy in Iran since 1990.”

Nuland said Nadarkhani, “is just one of thousands who face persecution for their religious beliefs in Iran, including the seven leaders of the Baha’i community whose imprisonment was increased to 20 years for practicing their faith and hundreds of Sufis who have been flogged in public because of their beliefs.”

Nuland added: “While Iran’s leaders hypocritically claim to promote tolerance, they continue to detain, imprison, harass, and abuse those who simply wish to worship the faith of their choosing.”

Nuland said the US, “join(s) the international community in continuing to call on the Iranian government to respect the fundamental rights of all its citizens and uphold its international commitments to protect them.”

Canadian Minister Denounces Possible Death Sentence for Apostasy in Iran

On July 7, John Baird, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, expressed his government’s concern over reports that the Iranian judiciary may follow through on its sentencing to death of Nadarkhani for apostasy.

In a statement, Baird said: “Canada calls upon the Iranian court to respect its obligations under international human rights law, including the right to freedoms of religion and belief, and the due process of law.”

Baird stated that if the court decides on capital punishment, “it would be the first execution based on an individual’s choice of religion or belief since 1990. Iran has consistently persecuted minorities for their religious beliefs, including the seven leaders of the Bahá’í community whose imprisonment for practicing their faith was increased to 20 years.”

Baird added: “Freedom of religion or belief is a universal human right that Canada has championed at every opportunity in international forums. In the recent Speech from the Throne, our government renewed our pledge to create an Office of Religious Freedom to monitor and combat precisely this type of persecution around the world.

“Canada hopes that the international community will join in this call to pressure Iranian authorities to uphold the fundamental rights, to which every person is entitled.”

European Politician Tweets 'Sign Petition' Plea

Arie Slob, a Member of the European Parliament, Tweeted the following message: “URGENT!! Halt The Execution Of Iranian Christian Yosef Nadarkhani For ‘Apostasy’ - Sign the Petition.”

Meanwhile, concerned believers may go online to sign the petition to stop Iran’s threatened execution of Nadarkhani by hanging. The petition, which can be found at: www.gopetition.com/petitions/urgent-halt-the-execution-of-iranian-christian-yosef.html , calls on the UN, UNHCHR, State Department, EU, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, and the European Parliament to do all in their power to pressure Iran to call off the execution.

In the Background (Preamble), the online petition says: “On June 28, 2011, Iranian Supreme Court confirmed Yosef Nadarkhani’s death penalty and refused his objection to the sentence issued by the lower court.

“According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Yosef Nadarkhani has been charged with apostasy at the age of nineteen and converting to Christianity. Iranian judicial authorities also state that Yosef Nadarkhani has preached Christianity for years.

“Accordingly, Gilan Province Court, Branch 11, has sentenced Yosef Nadarkhani to death penalty on charges of apostasy and preaching Christianity.

“Yosef Nadarkhani has been locked up in Rasht Prison since October 12, 2009. If the death penalty is carried out, it will be the first official hanging for apostasy and conversation to Christianity in the last twenty years.

“On December 3, 1990, Pastor Hussein Sodmand was hanged in Mashhad Prison for refusing to give up his Christian faith. Pastor Sodmand is the only priest who has been officially executed by the Islamic Judiciary Branch for apostasy and conversation to Christianity.”

The wording of the Petition is as follows:

“We the undersigned URGENTLY demand that the international community act forcefully to compel the Islamic Republic of Iran to IMMEDIATELY vacate the illegal death sentence against Yosef Nadarkhani for ‘apostasy.’ He is a prisoner of conscience sentenced to die for nothing more than peacefully practicing the religion of his choice.

“This barbaric sentence does not only violate international laws, treaties and covenants to which Iran is a signatory state, but it is an intolerable affront to the very norms of modern civilization which form the raison d'etre for the international community's institutions.

“All avenues must be actively pursued and exhausted to save the life of Yosef Nadarkhani and secure his immediate and unconditional release!”

DeMars says the Pakistani Embassy (www.embassyofpakistanusa.org ) represents the interests of Iran in the United States.

“Write them a letter requesting they ask Iran to release Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani of Rasht, Iran.”

He added: “I have been informed that the letters being sent to brother Youcef are having an impact on Iranian officials. Some (people) are sending gifts of chocolate, etc., along with the letters; we do not recommend that you do that, but if the Spirit leads you to do (so), obey His promptings.

“If you have not written a letter (to encourage Youcef) yet, please do so now. Voice of the Martyrs has a very simple process in place for us. You can go to our website and learn more about how to write an encouraging letter to him.”

You may do so through this website:

http://presenttruthmn.com/blog/iran/write-letter-brother-youcef/

DeMars added: “Writing a letter will (not only) encourage brother Youcef, but it will also let the Iranian authorities there directly involved in his case know that what they are doing is not a secret. There are even cases where prisoners have been released after receiving hundreds of letters from around the world.”

DeMars says letter-writers will have to follow the instructions on the VOM website, print out the letter and mail it to Iran.

“I ask that each of you make the sacrifice and very quickly write a letter to brother Youcef to encourage him,” DeMars said.

Please follow the instructions closely.

Go to: ‘Prisoner Alert for Youcef Nadarkhani’ www.prisoneralert.com/pprofiles/vp_prisoner_214_profile.html?_nc=c7d8efa49d5fd6ed0f64427b45c2f872

Under “What Can You Do For Youcef Nadarkhani” click on “write an encouraging letter.” Below that will pop up WRITE AN ENCOURAGING LETTER DIRECTLY TO YOUCEF NADARKHANI and below that click on CREATE LETTER.

Please then follow the prompts, select your scriptures, and after you print your letter, write something encouraging in English to him.

DeMars cautions: “However, please do not mention anything negative about the government or how you learned about this situation, especially do not mention any organizations or individuals.

“Write something encouraging, and also we recommend you include a photo of yourself or your family. Then put some postage on the letter and get it sent out to brother Youcef in the Lakan prison.

“Thank you for being an advocate for our brother who is bonds. You are following the biblical mandate to ‘remember those in bonds.’”