A Christian pastor in Iran is facing the death penalty for renouncing Islam, even though he didn't practice any other faith before his conversion to Christianity.
Abe Ghaffari of Iranian Christians International (ICI) tells OneNewsNow Youcef Nadarkhani is only one person involved in the latest Iranian crackdown against Christians.
"He, along with some other believers in Shiraz, which is a city in southern Iran, have been detained, and two of these brothers are in real danger," Ghaffari reports. "One is Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who is the one who is under [the] death sentence right now."The status of the other Christian is unknown at this time, but both are charged with apostasy as it is illegal to leave Islam for another faith. While Iran is serious about barring conversions, the ICI spokesperson says such treatment is really a message to the public at large.
"They are trying to arrest...interrogate [and] torture [people], and in this case, they passed the death sentence," he explains. "So the ultimate aim is to intimidate the church and to intimidate any other Muslims who want to become followers of Jesus Christ."
But even though Christians face serious threats and repercussions for their beliefs, the underground church continues to grow Iran. So Ghaffari is urging people to take Pastor Nadarkhani's situation, along with the plight of all Christians in that country, to prayer.
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