The Iranian government is once again pressuring Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani to recant his Christian faith.
According to The Voice of The Martyrs, the demand came just last week when Pastor Youcef's lawyers met with Chief Justice Heshmati of the Gilan Provincial Court. Heshmati again stated that the house church pastor would be freed from prison if he leaves Christianity and returns to Islam.
And again, Pastor Youcef told his attorneys that repenting means to return--it is impossible for him to return to Islam because he was never a Muslim at any time in his life.
A verdict in the Nadarkhani case was required by law nearly four months ago, but because of an international uproar, the mullahs who rule the Iranian judiciary decided to delay a final decision for up to one year. They said they wanted to give Pastor Youcef time to recant.
So, what's really going on here? The Iranian government fears validating a previous court ruling mandatng that Nadarkhani be executed for apostasy. It also believes it would lose face if the pastor is released.
So, the stalemate continues with Iranian government officials hoping people will simply forget about Youcef Nadarkhani. They'd prefer that he rot in his cell, that the matter would disappear.
As he languishes in prison, Christians around the world thank God that Pastor Youcef is still alive.
Let's continue to pray for a miracle.