(Image Source: The Blaze)

BY: ADAM SMITH

Pastor is facing the death penalty in Iran for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. Fox News reports.

“An Iranian court sentenced him to death for apostasy which is converting from Islam to any other religion. Nadarkhani became a Christian as a teenager but had never been a practicing Muslim.”

As a defense, Nadarkhani argues he was an agnostic before the conversion. He came to the attention of the Iranian government in 2009 after speaking out about his disagreement about how his children were being educated. The Christian Post says:

“The now 32-year-old evangelical house church pastor was first arrested for protesting against Christian children being forced to participate in Muslim religious education in school.”

Following Sharia law, the pastor was given the chance to return to Islam. But, as Sky News reports, he has stood firm—even though renouncing Christianity may be the only way to save his life.  

“He has denied that Muhammad was the prophet of God... He has been given three opportunities to renounce his Christianity but refused saying: ‘I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant.’”

The American and British governments have condemned Nadarkhani’s conviction. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says the Iranian government is being hypocritical. C-SPAN has that video.

“Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people. That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend.”

Still, Nadarkhani’s lawyer is optimistic, saying there is a 95% chance his client will be freed. One expert tells BBC the last death sentence in an apostasy case happened in 1990.