Iranian Pastor Nadarkhani, Still Alive, Passes 900th Day in Jail

Religion Today | Published: Apr 09, 2012

Iranian Pastor Nadarkhani, Still Alive, Passes 900th Day in Jail

April 10, 2012

Though still facing a possible execution, imprisoned Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is still alive -- and recently passed his 900th day behind bars for being a Christian, Baptist Press reports. Nadarkhani was able to visit with his son on April 2, his son's birthday, according to the American Center for Law and Justice. For weeks, rumors have spread around the Internet that Nadarkhani has been executed, with a picture of a body often accompanying the post, but that picture was taken more than a year ago of another person, and it's highly unlikely Iran would take a picture of Nadarkhani if he was executed, said Jordan Sekulow of the ACLJ. "We're able to confirm that he's alive pretty regularly, at least weekly," Sekulow said. Rumors of Nadarkhani's execution are easily dismissed, particularly if one starts on the weekend, when the Iranian government shuts down in recognition of the Muslim calendar. "They won't send out pictures [of Nadarkhani]," Sekulow said. "He is not someone who is on trial for being a spy -- those are the pictures we usually see. He is not one of those public executions."

Iranian Pastor Nadarkhani, Still Alive, Passes 900th Day in Jail