Location: Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Arrested: October 2009
Days Imprisoned:

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Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after he protested a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school. Youcef told school officials that the Iranian constitution allows for freedom of religious practice. As a result of his protest, secret police called him before a political tribunal and arrested him for protesting. The charges were later amended to apostasy and evangelism of Muslims. Youcef was tried on Sept. 21–22, 2010 by the 1st Court of the Revolutionary Tribunal and sentenced to death on Nov. 13 for apostasy.

The pastor is imprisoned in Lakan prison, where authorities have used various methods, including medication, to convert him back to Islam.

After Youcef refused to convert to Islam, his wife was arrested, put on trial without an attorney and sentenced to life in prison. She was later released after an attorney appealed her sentence. The Nadarkhanis’ children were cared for by a relative while they were both in prison.

Will Youcef's Lawyer Be Sent to Prison?
The main defense lawyer for Youcef Nadarkhani was himself sentenced to nine years in jail for allegedly acting against national security. Human rights lawyer and defense attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah received the word while defending another of his clients in court. Dadkhah is also banned from teaching or practicing law for ten years.

It is unclear what will happen in Nadarkhani’s case if his lawyer is imprisoned. Dadkhah told the ACLJ that no other attorney will represent Nadarkhani out of fear of being imprisoned or disbarred themselves.

Iranian Government: Nadarkhani Offended Islam
An Iranian envoy has denied an execution order was issued for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, but revealed a list of charges against the evangelical Christian that allegedly make him guilty of "offending Islam." The envoy said Nadarkhani was inviting juveniles into his home, without their parent's permission, to preach Christianity. He also claimed Nadarkhani converted his basement into a church without the government's permission. He also said that in preaching Christianity, Nadarkhani was offending Islam, a serious charge that shows the true reason why his case is so concerning to the government.