Iran to Pastor: Renounce Christ or Die

An Iranian pastor will face execution within days if he refuses to renounce his Christian faith.

The Iranian supreme court will hold a hearing Wednesday to give Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani one last opportunity to recant, according to the British group Christianity Solidarity Worldwide.

Nadarkhani has already refused to recant his faith in court previously.

"As far as we understand, he will be asked again if he wishes to recant," CSW press officer Kiri Kankhwende said. "Should he refuse, we understand that he will be facing an execution."

CSW said Iranian law doesn't define apostasy or its punishment. The group siad that, in this case, the courts are using fatwas (Islamic rulings) issued by powerful ayatollahs (Muslim religious leaders).

"This whole situation, the charges against him and the punishment he's facing, are illegal -- not only by the Iranian Constitution but the international treaties to which Iran is a party to," Kankhwende said.

The pastor's case is an example of Iran's current crackdown on Christians.

Recently, the government openly admitted that Iranians are leaving the Islamic faith and becoming Christians.

"In particular in this last year, this persecution has gained momentum, and I really think that is because the church is growing with increasing momentum," U.S. director of Elam Ministries David Yeghnazar said.

Many believe Nadarkhani was targeted because he spoke out. He recently questioned the Muslim monopoly on the religious instruction of children in Iran.

Source: The Christian Broadcasting Network