Youcef Nadarkhani Has Not Been Executed; ACLJ Denies Rumors

March 6, 2012

Sources from the American Center for Law and Justice have confirmed that imprisoned Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still alive and that rumors of his execution during the weekend were false. Photos purporting to be from Nadarkhani's hanging circulated on the Internet Saturday, but the ACLJ reported the photos were outdated and "demonstratively false." Although Nadarkhani is still alive, the ACLJ still believes his execution order has been issued. International pressure on Iran continues; on March 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring Iran to be in violation of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights and the Iranian constitution. "Now is not the time to lose hope, but to remain ardent in prayer and to fight this injustice by raising as much awareness as possible," said Aidan Clay of International Christian Concern.