Youcef Nadarkhani is an Iranian pastor who has been sentenced to death for being a Christian. His more specific "crime" is apostasy, or leaving Islam, even though he says he never practiced Islam, and refusing to recant his Christian faith. He's been a pastor for 10 years and is married with two kids.
He has been fighting this battle since 2006 where he was arrested for being a pastor. In 2009, he protested Islam being taught in schools, and was arrested again. Then in 2010, his wife was arrested for apostasy and sentenced to life in prison, but it was later appealed and overturned.
Now he has been sentenced to death, and his fate is up in the air. His case was appealed to Iran's Supreme Court.
Please ask Iran to spare Youcef Nadarkhani's life, and to not kill any other people simply because they are not Muslims. Nadarkhani and all other Iranian people deserve religious freedom -- no one deserves to be killed because of their beliefs.
I am writing to you all today to ask that Youcef Nadarkhani's life be spared. Nadarkhani and all other Iranian people deserve the freedom to practice their own religion -- no one deserves to be killed because of their beliefs.
Please do the right thing and do not kill someone who has committed no real crime. Do not take a husband, son, father, pastor, and friend. He does not deserve to die.
