U.S. condemns Iranian plan to execute pastor

The White House condemned Iranian’s conviction of pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who may face execution for refusing to recant his beliefs and convert from Christianity to Islam. A White House spokesman said, “That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all boundaries of decency and breaches Iran’s own international obligations.”

Nadarkhani was sentenced to death in Novermber 2010. His trail has gone through lengthy appeals to overturn the decision. The political fallout if Iran goes through with the execution is unknown, though Iran would be violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which it is a member.