Mar 7, 2023

USCIRF Relieved by Release of Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

Calls for Release of All Prisoners of Conscience in Iran

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today expressed relief over news that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was released from prison. Pastor Nadarkhani, a convert from Islam and the leader of a 400-member house church, was arrested in 2018 on charges of acting against national security and promoting “Zionist Christianity.” In a separate case from 2010, he was sentenced to death on apostasy and evangelism charges, though the sentence and charge of apostasy were later dropped.

“USCIRF welcomes news of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s long-overdue release. The Iranian regime has relentlessly targeted Christian converts from Islam for peacefully practicing their faith. Though we are relieved by his release many still remain imprisoned. We call for the release of all religious prisoners in Iran,” said Vice Chair Abraham Cooper. “The U.S. government must continue to work with its partners in the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance to hold Iranian authorities accountable for its unjustified arrests and many violations of freedom of religion or belief.”

Iran’s constitution does not recognize Evangelical Christian communities, unlike other Christian communities that are afforded nominal recognition. Authorities often raid Evangelical communities’ peaceful religious gatherings, especially during Christmas celebrations. Iran’s government particularly targets Christians who have converted from Islam, including Pastor Nadarkhani. In February 2021, during his detention at Evin Prison, Nadarkhani reportedly contracted COVID-19 putting his health at serious risk.

“Pastor Nadarkhani’s repeated unjust detentions on the basis of his faith are illustrative of the Iranian authorities’ utter contempt for freedom of religion or belief and persecution of religious communities,” said USCIRF Commissioner Mohamed Magid. “The U.S. government must use all available options to hold accountable Iranian officials responsible for or complicit in these egregious violations.”

In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended that the U.S. State Department redesignate Iran as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for its systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, which Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced in November 2022.

USCIRF published a country update on religious freedom conditions in Iran in the first half of 2022, held a hearing on “State-Sanctioned Religious Freedom Violations and Coercion by Saudi Arabia and Iran,” discussed the situation for religious prisoners of conscience in Iran on an episode of USCIRF Spotlight Podcast, and published a report on Religious Propaganda in Iran, in addition to highlighting the mandatory hijab law protests. Most recently, USCIRF hosted a hearing on “Religious Freedom and Women’s Rights in Iran,” which highlighted multiple death sentences on religiously grounded charges against Iranian religious prisoners of conscience and concerns of mass executions.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].