Motion for a resolution | Doc. 12846 | 24 January 2012

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani

Author(s): several Assembly members

Signatories: Mr James CLAPPISON, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Brian BINLEY, United Kingdom, EDG ; Lord Tim BOSWELL, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Otto CHALOUPKA, Czech Republic, EDG ; Mr Christopher CHOPE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Jim DOBBIN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Jeffrey DONALDSON, United Kingdom, EDG ; Alexander [The Earl of] DUNDEE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Lady Diana ECCLES, United Kingdom, EDG ; Ms Jana FISCHEROVÁ, Czech Republic, EDG ; Sir Roger GALE, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Oliver HEALD, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Jim HOOD, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Tomáš JIRSA, Czech Republic, EDG ; Ms Marie KRARUP, Denmark, EDG ; Mr Ian LIDDELL-GRAINGER, United Kingdom, EDG ; Ms Amber RUDD, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Samad SEYIDOV, Azerbaijan, EDG ; Mr Øyvind VAKSDAL, Norway, EDG ; Ms Karin S. WOLDSETH, Norway, EDG

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

In September 2010, Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who ministers to a network of house churches in Iran, was condemned to death by an Iranian Court for alleged offences arising out of the exercise of his faith. He has been told that the sentence will be commuted if he renounces his Christian faith. Pastor Nadarkhani has refused to do this and remains in custody in Iran. The way in which Pastor Nadarkhani has been treated was condemned by President Obama last year and has been the source of worldwide protest.

The Assembly should join the protests against the inhumane treatment of Pastor Nadarkhani and urge the Iranian authorities to desist from the persecution of religious minorities.