Iran to execute Christian

At times this week it has seemed as if every tradition, however ancient, eventually fades away. Some, unfortunately, show no signs of doing so. This week a man faced a choice forced on countless others over many centuries. He was told to renounce his religious faith. If he failed to do so, he could expect "to be executed by being hung until his soul is taken from him".

The sentence, passed on him by an Iranian court, and confirmed by its Supreme Court, is for the offence of "Apostasy".

The man is Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani. He was born into a Muslim family but converted to Christianity. The Iranian Supreme Court gave a judgment in July of this year that left matters agonisingly uncertain. There was to be an investigation to establish whether he had practised as a Muslim before his conversion. The implication was that if he had, he would be killed. The question was remitted to the court in Rasht, Pastor Nadarkhani's home. The court concluded that he had not been a practising Muslim adult before his conversion. There was, however, a twist, the court decided that he was nevertheless guilty of apostasy on the basis of his "Muslim ancestry".

He was given four chances to recant. He refused to do so. His fate is now in the hands of the appeals court, his lawyer is optimistic of an acquittal and we can only hope he is right. Sometimes you need to check your watch to see what century it is.

(See David Allen Green's piece in the New Statesman for more. He has updated here.)