Cohen Calls on Iran to Free Pastor Nadarkhani

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today called on the Iranian government to free Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who is facing a death sentence for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. The Memphis Congressman is a member of the Helsinki Commission.

“It is troubling to hear that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is facing execution for refusing to renounce his religion,” said Congressman Cohen. “The imprisonment and impending execution of Pastor Nadarkhani belies the Iranian government’s claims of religious tolerance. Freedom to practice one’s own religion is a basic human right and should be respected by people and governments throughout the world. I strongly urge the Iranian government to free Pastor Nadarkhani.”

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, 35, and father of two, has been in prison in the city of Rasht for the past two years on the mullah-fabricated charge of apostasy. He is now to choose between execution and renouncing his faith. Currently, many followers of Christianity or other religions are in clerical regime’s prisons on similar charges.