Iranian Pastor Awaits Ayatollah's Verdict on Apostasy

Iranian pastor Yousef Nadarkhani continues to be held in prison in Rasht, Iran, while waiting on the verdict to be delivered from the local court following his conviction on apostasy charges, ASSIST News Service reports. Several weeks ago, the court wrote a letter to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, requesting his legal opinion in the case, but there is no law or precedent governing how quickly he is required to respond. "Yousef's attitude is positive and he remains very strong in his faith and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ," said Jason DeMars of Present Truth Ministries. He added that Iran's security forces are "still working to convert him back to Islam or else have documented proof that he is a blasphemer against Islam." Additionally, authorities have stepped up efforts to pressure the network of Christians across the country.