Condemning Iran for Its Persecution Youcef Nadarkhani

Floor Speech

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Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 556, a resolution condemning the government of Iran for its ongoing repression of religious minorities, including 34-year-old Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. I was an original cosponsor of this resolution, and thank my friend Congressman PITTS for introducing this important legislation.

Just this past week, Iranian authorities renewed an order of execution for Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, a young father of two. Pastor Nadarkhani was originally arrested in 2009 for protesting the teaching of Islam at the public school that his children attended. He was later charged with apostasy which carried a much more severe penalty. Since 2009 he has been subjected to repeated attempts to coerce him to recant his faith--which he has courageously refused to do. Rather, Pastor Nadarkhani's perseverance in the face of this injustice is a source of great inspiration. In a 2010 letter from prison, he wrote that the true believer, ``does not need to wonder for the fiery trial that has been set on for him as though it were something unusual, but it pleases him to participate in Christ's suffering. Because the believer knows he will rejoice in his glory.''

Indeed, Pastor Youcef has faced a ``fiery trial.'' And now, according to a February 22 Fox New story, the latest developments mean that Pastor Youcef may be ``executed at any time without prior warning, as death sentences in Iran may be carried out immediately or dragged out for years.''

Pastor Youcef's case is just the latest example of Iran's attacks on basic human rights, including freedom of religion. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in Iran in acts of repression and discrimination against religious minorities including Bahai's and Christians. These actions show a continuing disregard by Iranian authorities for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as its own constitution.

In addition to supporting this resolution condemning Iran for these shocking and flagrant violations of fundamental freedoms, I call on the government of Iran to immediately and unconditionally release Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.

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