Washington, Sep 30 (IANS) The US Thursday asked Iran to free an Iranian pastor sentenced to death in that country for allegedly refusing to renounce Christianity for Islam.
The decision demonstrate ‘utter disregard’ for religious freedom and ‘universal rights of its citizens’, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani ‘has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith’, he said.
Nadarkhani, 32, converted from Islam to Christianity when he was 19. In 2010, he was convicted of apostasy and remained in prison since, Xinhua reported.
Carney called on the Iranian authorities to release the pastor and demonstrate ‘a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion’.
