Jack Chivo: Human rights activists ignore Youcet Nadarkhani and other Christians in Iran
It was a week full of "human rights" protests in Vancouver and elsewhere. Dozens gathered in front of the Jewish Community Centre, waving Palestinian flags, and signs denouncing the visit here by Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman; hundreds more protested the lecture by former U.S. vice president Dick Cheney in front of a friendly audience.
The Georgia Straight fully reported the protests against Cheney, even the threats to arrest the former U.S. politician issued by some local lawyers, including a demand of arrest from a sitting MP, Don Davies, himself a trained lawyer. It also reported the actions around the world against the execution of a man, Troy Davis, convicted of the killing of a U.S. police officer some two decades ago.
As a matter of fact, besides the foolishness and grandstanding of requesting that the Vancouver police detain Cheney, in spite of the fact that there was never any arrest warrant for man from any local or international court—and Canada is a country of law—I do not have any problem with anyone committed to justice, in their own ways, taking to the streets to express their opinions in Vancouver or around the world, as long it is done in nonviolent manner.
What aggravates me is the total blindness toward cruel dictatorships, again proven by the lack of any activity in support of a brave Iranian pastor, Youcet Nadarkhani, age 34, who could be executed this week for the unspeakble "crime" of refusing to renounce his Christian faith.
Detained since 2009, Nadarkhani, who is leading a 400-person congregation, was threatened, tortured, brought to court four times, accused of "apostasy" for leaving the Muslim faith for another religion, and repeatedly sentenced to death. This is in spite of the fact that, according to Amnesty International, apostasy is not a crime under the Iranian Penal Code, but is considered as such by the mullahs running the country.
They even put his wife in jail for over six months, who was never accused of anything. This was done only to pressure Nadarkhani to give up his religion, which he has practised since his youth.
According to the American Center for Law and Justice earlier this week, Nadarkhani was asked again in court to "repent", to which he replied: "Repent means to return, what should I return to?"
"To the religion of your ancestors, Islam!", the judge requested. The pastor responded, "I cannot", and a death sentence was imposed. It can be carried out at any time, because in Iran they execute hundreds of people every year, always in a hurry.
Which makes me wonder aloud: where are the usual protesters, especially the high-profile human-rights activists like NDP MPs Don Davies and Libby Davies, Rabbi David Mivasair, not to mention the minister at the United Church downtown, the social-justice committees at the Anglican Church, the Unitarians, the Catholic and United Church leaders—all of them Christians?
Why are they not flooding the streets, issuing statements, speaking in the Parliament, strongly demanding the stop of the execution and the release of their brother in faith, the Iranian Christian pastor whose only crime is believing in Jesus?
Where are the Muslim leaders in our city, who always say that Islam is the "religion of peace", under which people of all religions are free to practise what they believe in—but keep silent when a pastor in the Islamic Republic of Iran is in imminent danger of being executed for refusing to renounce his Christians faith?
Would we hear from them soon?
Jack Chivo is a retired journalist living in West Vancouver.
Comments
12 Comments
Marlon
Oct 2, 2011 at 1:27pm
Poor research, Mr. Chivo.
In fact, Don Davies did NOT call for the "arrest" of Dick Cheney. He simply called for the Minister of Immigration to apply Canada's immigration laws, which explicitly render inadmissible to Canada those who have committed serious crimes, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Cheney admitted to approving the use of water boarding (including against a Canadian citizen.) Water boarding is a crime. It is also torture, which is also a crime.AND a war crime. After the Cons spent the summer asking Canadians to help rid our country of those who had committed serious crimes, this only seems consistent. If Canada is not to be a safe haven for those who commit torture, we must apply the rules in all cases. By the way, IRPA does not require a conviction nor does Cheney enjoy immunity. If Canada kept out George Galloway and Gaddhafi, why not Cheney????
WHO is playing politics???
hurddurr
Oct 2, 2011 at 2:19pm
China executed “thousands” according to Amnesty and dozens of other human rights groups in 2009, 2010 and yet again this year.
Jack did you march upon parliament hill? Demand Israel stand up to China? Demand the US do something?
Nope
Sheep
Oct 2, 2011 at 4:35pm
No doubt Iran has a barbaric Dictatorship + regime...
But the irony is that the three religions, Islam, Christianity + Judaism all share much in common from common holy figures / prophets to rituals and customs.
In fact they are the three closely related religions on the Planet.
Yet they would rather kill each other than talk peace...
What about the plight of Christians in Israel? Youtube...
Israeli TV making fun of Crucifixion...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JA6vRC1xW_c&feature=related
Nuremberg type Crimes on other populations...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynWjYHP91gA&feature=fvwrel
Persecution Of Christians In Israel ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E7Ruusn1QM
Israeli's stopping Christians from making a living...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3O3EB6pjHw&feature=related
Israeli Settlers "We Killed Jesus and we are proud of it"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3iHtoAg6cc
Yes Jesus was born into a Jewish family...
Mr. Chivo I hope you will one day tell BOTH sides of the story not prop up only one side...
bdubblut
Oct 2, 2011 at 8:19pm
religions lie.
always have.
always will.
i refer to them as 'benchmark terrorists'.
Jack Chivo
Oct 2, 2011 at 9:17pm
I did not expect much from the people commenting on my writing, but, at least, they should have been logical and addressing the issue, rather than meandering around like drunken sailors, not knowing what to write, where do go, and why?
One complained that Galloway was not permitted to enter Canada, when he freely travelled around the country, delivering his speches even here in Vancouver.
Another, after reading that the Iranian pastor is facing hanging at any time, requested that I should go to Ottawa to protest against Israel for not confronting China???
Makes sense, n'est pas??
I was even advised to watch Youtube to learn that Jesus was born in a Jewish family???
Did these people care about the fate of an Iranian pastor sentenced to death, for not giving up his love for and belief in Jesus???
Of course not!!!
Everyone seems to only be interested in trumpeting their personal pettiness, no matter what the subject is.
In the meantime, the Iranian Pastor is rotting in an Iranian jail, fearing for his life and the safety of his family!!
After reading the comments, I feel that the writers might be afflicted with a severe case of Atttention Deficit Disorder, (ADD), which is described as being "easily distracted, missing details, forgeting things" .
Hopefuly they will get the much needed help.
Sheep
Oct 2, 2011 at 9:55pm
"Everyone seems to only be interested in trumpeting their personal pettiness, no matter what the subject is. "
Pot Kettle Black Chivo :)
Birdy
Oct 2, 2011 at 9:56pm
Hey Jack, I was just wondering; what does your religion have to say about judging people?
Roy Galutia
Oct 2, 2011 at 10:59pm
All banter aside - please lift this pastor up in your prayers and share his story on your facebook wall
Jack Chivo
Oct 3, 2011 at 7:16pm
Just a quick update for these readers who truly care about freedom of religion, or the "freedom not to believe in any religion".
Today, the justice system in Iran has "enhanced" the charges against the Iranian Christian Pastor, from "apostasy", which officially is NOT a crime under the Penal Code in the country, to also being a "zionist" and a "threat" to the security of the Iranian Islamic Republic.
And this is a crime punishable by hanging in Iran.
I just wonder what would have happened if in any civilised country in the world if someone converting to Islam would be imprisoned, tortured and sentenced to death by hanging for being an apostate, and even worse an Islamist!!
A sentence recently validated by the Islamic Superior Court in Iran.
Should I hold my breath waiting for a reaction and/or protests from the "usual suspects"??
I guess not!!
Ariane
Oct 4, 2011 at 11:55am
Jack,
It is too much to expect the ignaramuses who responded to your column to sympathize with a human being who faces hanging some 20,000 kilometers away. They are only interested in attacking people like you from their safe comfortable homes in Canada where they are protected by freedom of expression laws.
But one could have expected that the various leaders of religious and non-religious institutions would have taken up his cause.
THEIR silence is deafening.