Elias Bejjani
My new Arabic editorial (text/Audio) carries the title: "Israel Is Not the Enemy, But the Syrian and Iranian Axis Of Evil Regimes are". It focuses with complete openness and transparency on "Israel The Enemy" tag and dissects it to differentiate with solid facts reality from fantasy and truth from lies. In actual reality this tag is bogus, demagogue, deceptive and fantasizing
Sadly its misleading rhetoric has been used and abused for the last sixty years as a camouflaging and evil self destructive means by numerous Arab countries, Iran and terrorist organizations. All of those who carried this tag, countries and organization, did so to justify their dictatorships, and the oppression, persecution, impoverishing and killing of their own people.
That was the situation with Kaddafi of Libya, Nasser of Egypt, the two Assads of Syria, Iranian Mullahs, Hamas, Hezbollah etc. Day after day allas facts, setbacks, loses, disasters and corruption show that these so called heroes of "Resistance and Liberation" are mere cheap and mean merchants that have no conscience, patriotism, credibility, faith or any respect for their own people, or human dignity.
Lebanon and its people have suffered the most from this big lie and heresy and still are. Since the early seventies most of the Arab rulers and Iran turned Lebanon by force, terrorism and crime, and against the will of the majority of its people into an arena and backyard for absurd wars against Israel.
The PLO destroyed Lebanon and instigated a civil war in the seventies and eighties, and now Hezbollah, the Iranian armed terrorist militant organization is taking the country and its people a hostage under the same pretext of fighting Israel, "the enemy".
Loudly we say, Israel is not the actual enemy but both the Syrian and Iranian regimes with their Lebanese and Palestinian terrorist armed proxies. It is time for all the Lebanese as well as for the Arab people to wake up and start dealing seriously with their two aggressive and dictatorship enemies, the Syrian and Iranian regimes
Arabic links Audio/Text
http://www.10452lccc.com/elias%20arabic11/elias%20enemies28.10.11.htm
http://www.bejjani46.com/bejjaninews11/eliastaelek.israel30.10.wma
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Let the axis of evil mouthpieces cry and scream in vain
By: Elias Bejjani*
Let every Lebanese and Maronite take note: we do not see in Bchara Al Raei a genuine Maronite Patriarch, but a man of cloth and a Trojan horse who is doing all that he can in numerous devious, sinister and camouflaged ways, rhetoric, sermons, speeches, interviews, statements, manners, patterns and styles to make our peace-loving Lebanese people fall into temptation and commit suicide by siding with dictatorships, murderers, terrorists and outlaws, exactly like Beelzebub, the prince of demons.
Accordingly, we can't and must not debate or argue with those who are viciously defending the Syrianized and Iranianized Al Raei anti-Christian, anti-Lebanese, anti-peace, anti-democracy anti-faith stances and evil rhetoric because this same bunch of opportunists, terrorists, Pharisees and mercenaries is defending the Syrian and Iranian dictatorial regimes and hailing Hezbollah's terrorism and the ongoing conspiracy of the axis of evil countries to devour Lebanon and erect a replicate of the Iranian mullahs' radical Islamist regime.
In reality, these people, regardless of their social, religious or political statuses or names, are merely an echoing trumpet, cheap opportunists and ignoramuses. Meanwhile, we can and we should peacefully and wisely continue to loudly voice our own patriotic and faithful convictions, and free opinions.
We have an obligation to act in an honest and morally responsible way to strengthen a free Lebanon, for the sacrifices of our martyrs, and, at the same time, to courageously expose the hazardous, fatal and devastating consequences of Al Raei’s derailed stances and rhetoric.
It worth mentioning that getting involved directly or indirectly with those mercenaries and Trojan horses in arguments or debates is a complete waste of time and effort and makes us lose track of our main cause. We don’t need to stoop that low because we surely know who they are, who their masters are and what exactly their evil aims are.
So let them say whatever they like, distort the truth, lie as they choose, cry and scream as loud as they can. On our side we have to keep confidently and honestly saying what we have to say with no fear or any kind of hesitation or shame.
We MUST not be distracted from being ourselves, from whom really we are, from our holy patriotic cause, from the truth and foundations of honesty and transparency. We must keep on advocating for human rights, freedom and peace because we are Lebanese and because Lebanon's prime message is peace, coexistence, multiculturalism, freedom and acceptance of others.
For those who are hesitant, spineless, procrastinating, acting with humiliating cowardice like puppets, not taking honorable stances and are afraid to stand tall like the Holy Cedars of their beloved Lebanon and tell Al Raei what they think about his pro- axis of evil stance, we say what Jesus said to His disciples: "Why are you so frightened? What little faith you have!" (Matthew 08/26)
The real challenge for all patriotic Lebanese Maronite Christians as well as for all the peace-loving Lebanese mosaic communities in Lebanon and the diaspora lies in their crucial success in exposing and aborting all Al Raei pro-axis of evil endeavors.
The prime question for all Maronites who hail Lebanon's message of peace and multiculturalism is whether we are going to allow the derailed Al Raei keep our Maronite church as a mere puppet and satellite revolving in the axis of evil's orbit without mounting a tough and faithful opposition? Are we going to take a staunch stand against him or will we act like sheep and walk silently to the slaughterhouse? The two choices are very clear and distinct: either the slaughterhouse or a free and democratic Lebanon.
In conclusion, we are against Al Raei's political choices both in Lebanon and in neighboring Syria. In Lebanon he sided with Hezbollah's ministate and destructive and deadly arsenal against the Lebanese constitution, the judiciary, the Taef Agreement, the Charter of Human Rights and the UN resolutions related to the ongoing Lebanese crisis. He also adopted Hezbollah's hostile stance against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). Meanwhile, regionally he is supporting Al Assad’s criminal Syrian regime against the Syrian uprising and falsely alleging that this notorious dictatorship is protecting the Christians in the Middle East.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/
Let every Lebanese and Maronite take note: we do not see in Bchara Al Raei a genuine Maronite Patriarch, but a man of cloth and a Trojan horse who is doing all that he can in numerous devious, sinister and camouflaged ways, rhetoric, sermons, speeches, interviews, statements, manners, patterns and styles to make our peace-loving Lebanese people fall into temptation and commit suicide by siding with dictatorships, murderers, terrorists and outlaws, exactly like Beelzebub, the prince of demons.
Accordingly, we can't and must not debate or argue with those who are viciously defending the Syrianized and Iranianized Al Raei anti-Christian, anti-Lebanese, anti-peace, anti-democracy anti-faith stances and evil rhetoric because this same bunch of opportunists, terrorists, Pharisees and mercenaries is defending the Syrian and Iranian dictatorial regimes and hailing Hezbollah's terrorism and the ongoing conspiracy of the axis of evil countries to devour Lebanon and erect a replicate of the Iranian mullahs' radical Islamist regime.
In reality, these people, regardless of their social, religious or political statuses or names, are merely an echoing trumpet, cheap opportunists and ignoramuses. Meanwhile, we can and we should peacefully and wisely continue to loudly voice our own patriotic and faithful convictions, and free opinions.
We have an obligation to act in an honest and morally responsible way to strengthen a free Lebanon, for the sacrifices of our martyrs, and, at the same time, to courageously expose the hazardous, fatal and devastating consequences of Al Raei’s derailed stances and rhetoric.
It worth mentioning that getting involved directly or indirectly with those mercenaries and Trojan horses in arguments or debates is a complete waste of time and effort and makes us lose track of our main cause. We don’t need to stoop that low because we surely know who they are, who their masters are and what exactly their evil aims are.
So let them say whatever they like, distort the truth, lie as they choose, cry and scream as loud as they can. On our side we have to keep confidently and honestly saying what we have to say with no fear or any kind of hesitation or shame.
We MUST not be distracted from being ourselves, from whom really we are, from our holy patriotic cause, from the truth and foundations of honesty and transparency. We must keep on advocating for human rights, freedom and peace because we are Lebanese and because Lebanon's prime message is peace, coexistence, multiculturalism, freedom and acceptance of others.
For those who are hesitant, spineless, procrastinating, acting with humiliating cowardice like puppets, not taking honorable stances and are afraid to stand tall like the Holy Cedars of their beloved Lebanon and tell Al Raei what they think about his pro- axis of evil stance, we say what Jesus said to His disciples: "Why are you so frightened? What little faith you have!" (Matthew 08/26)
The real challenge for all patriotic Lebanese Maronite Christians as well as for all the peace-loving Lebanese mosaic communities in Lebanon and the diaspora lies in their crucial success in exposing and aborting all Al Raei pro-axis of evil endeavors.
The prime question for all Maronites who hail Lebanon's message of peace and multiculturalism is whether we are going to allow the derailed Al Raei keep our Maronite church as a mere puppet and satellite revolving in the axis of evil's orbit without mounting a tough and faithful opposition? Are we going to take a staunch stand against him or will we act like sheep and walk silently to the slaughterhouse? The two choices are very clear and distinct: either the slaughterhouse or a free and democratic Lebanon.
In conclusion, we are against Al Raei's political choices both in Lebanon and in neighboring Syria. In Lebanon he sided with Hezbollah's ministate and destructive and deadly arsenal against the Lebanese constitution, the judiciary, the Taef Agreement, the Charter of Human Rights and the UN resolutions related to the ongoing Lebanese crisis. He also adopted Hezbollah's hostile stance against the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). Meanwhile, regionally he is supporting Al Assad’s criminal Syrian regime against the Syrian uprising and falsely alleging that this notorious dictatorship is protecting the Christians in the Middle East.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/
Monday, October 10, 2011
Egyptian authorities commits a heinous crime against Coptic Christians
Elias Bejjani*
What is a shame and a disgrace, when the Military Egyptian authorities with no mercy, and with cold blood commits a heinous and barbaric massacre against unarmed Coptic Christian civilians who were just protesting in a peaceful and civilized manner the shameful atrocity of burning one of their churches by fundamentalist (in the village of Elmarinab in Edfu, Aswan).
Click Here to read the report that shows the details of the savage attack http://www.aina.org/news/20111010003621.htm
On Sunday, Egyptian military forces attacked the Coptic demonstrators savagely using all kinds of weapons including armored vehicles, tanks and tear gases. Initial reports indicated that at lease 35 Coptics were killed and more than 300 injured. The number of the victims could rise dramatically as many bodies are still unidentified and disfigured beyond recognition.
We strongly condemn this savage crime of hatred and barbarism and call upon the Egyptian authorities to assume their full responsibilities and once and forever stop justifying their anti Coptic crimes with false fabrications and empty accusations of foreign conspiracies.
An immediate judicial thorough investigation must be carried out without any delay under international supervision. All officials and military personnel who instigated and executed the criminal attack must be held responsible and put on trial.
Apparently, the ruling Egyptian Military Council has completely abandoned its governing responsibilities, negated its security obligations and with the Salafist fundementalists is openly persecuting and murdering the Coptics. The crime of yesterday is a huge insult to the military Egyptian rulers and to all the Arab countries .
It has become a must that the persecuted, threatened, scared and abandoned Copts call on the UN and Free World countries to step in and protect them from their own rulers, army and people. The Free World countries and UN have a moral obligation to intervene by all available means and on all levels in a bid to protect the Egyptian Copts and to condemn the escalating anti-Coptic stances that the military rulers of Egypt are taking, while the fanatical Muslim Salafists are attacking the Copts, invading their homes, killing them, burning their churches and threatening to kill their clergy.
We offer our heartily felt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in Egypt yesterday and wish a quick recovery to those who were injured. Our thoughts are with all those were affected by the savage crime.
In conclusion, it’s the national duty of the Egyptian state and people to produce an effective legal, social and security apparatus through which the safety, freedom, faith, churches and property of the Copts are safeguarded from the savagery of the Salafists and other fanatics.
Meanwhile, all Copts' rights as equal Egyptian citizens should be fully honored without racism, discrimination or injustice. And most importantly, both Article Two of the Egyptian constitution and the "Hamayoni Decree" (a clause in the Egyptian law, dating back from Ottoman rule, February 1856, that regulates Church construction and maintenance), MUST be abolished.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/
What is a shame and a disgrace, when the Military Egyptian authorities with no mercy, and with cold blood commits a heinous and barbaric massacre against unarmed Coptic Christian civilians who were just protesting in a peaceful and civilized manner the shameful atrocity of burning one of their churches by fundamentalist (in the village of Elmarinab in Edfu, Aswan).
Click Here to read the report that shows the details of the savage attack http://www.aina.org/news/20111010003621.htm
On Sunday, Egyptian military forces attacked the Coptic demonstrators savagely using all kinds of weapons including armored vehicles, tanks and tear gases. Initial reports indicated that at lease 35 Coptics were killed and more than 300 injured. The number of the victims could rise dramatically as many bodies are still unidentified and disfigured beyond recognition.
We strongly condemn this savage crime of hatred and barbarism and call upon the Egyptian authorities to assume their full responsibilities and once and forever stop justifying their anti Coptic crimes with false fabrications and empty accusations of foreign conspiracies.
An immediate judicial thorough investigation must be carried out without any delay under international supervision. All officials and military personnel who instigated and executed the criminal attack must be held responsible and put on trial.
Apparently, the ruling Egyptian Military Council has completely abandoned its governing responsibilities, negated its security obligations and with the Salafist fundementalists is openly persecuting and murdering the Coptics. The crime of yesterday is a huge insult to the military Egyptian rulers and to all the Arab countries .
It has become a must that the persecuted, threatened, scared and abandoned Copts call on the UN and Free World countries to step in and protect them from their own rulers, army and people. The Free World countries and UN have a moral obligation to intervene by all available means and on all levels in a bid to protect the Egyptian Copts and to condemn the escalating anti-Coptic stances that the military rulers of Egypt are taking, while the fanatical Muslim Salafists are attacking the Copts, invading their homes, killing them, burning their churches and threatening to kill their clergy.
We offer our heartily felt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in Egypt yesterday and wish a quick recovery to those who were injured. Our thoughts are with all those were affected by the savage crime.
In conclusion, it’s the national duty of the Egyptian state and people to produce an effective legal, social and security apparatus through which the safety, freedom, faith, churches and property of the Copts are safeguarded from the savagery of the Salafists and other fanatics.
Meanwhile, all Copts' rights as equal Egyptian citizens should be fully honored without racism, discrimination or injustice. And most importantly, both Article Two of the Egyptian constitution and the "Hamayoni Decree" (a clause in the Egyptian law, dating back from Ottoman rule, February 1856, that regulates Church construction and maintenance), MUST be abolished.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=602442765#!/
Saturday, October 1, 2011
To the Maronite Patriarch Bchara Al Raei: Read, Repent And offer The Penances
By: Elias Bejjani*
Below is an open and actual message for your Beatitude, a message from Iran.
Please note that an Iranian court has imposed the death sentence on Yousef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old protestant preacher, for apostasy after he repeatedly refused to recant his Christian faith.
Against all Christian values, teachings and the faith of the majority of your people the Maronites all over the world, you have boldly and with no shame sided with the Iranian and Syrian regimes of Axis of Evil.
Not only you hailed their criminal atrocities but also you have been advocating for their Hezbollah's proxy arsenal of destruction and terrorism in Lebanon.
We wonder how a man of cloth with you noble status and position would abandon Jesus Christ, as well as the historical convictions of the Maronite Church and replicate Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus who handed Him to the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver. Below is a report, an actual one, a human Dilemma that shows in reality how the Iranian regime that you blindly support is protecting and safeguarding the Christians. Is this the kind of protection that you are endeavoring to bring to the Lebanese Christians? Shame on you!!
We call on you to repent, ask Almighty God for forgiveness and to immediately revoke all your pro Axis of Evil stances and offer the required penances.
At the same time we reiterate our call for all the Maronites in the USA to boycott all the events where you will be present during your pastoral visit. Again you do not represent us, we the Maronites and accordingly we have no what so ever obligation to abide with your instructions and political stances.
Read the below report and take action!!
Death Sentence on Christian Leader Yousef Nadarkhani
http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2011/sep/29/death-sentence-christian-leader-yousef-nadarkhani
30 SEP 2011 Comments'I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant.'
[ quote, unquote ] An Iranian court has imposed the death sentence on Yousef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old protestant preacher, for apostasy after he repeatedly refused to recant his Christian faith. The verdict has generated international condemnation this week. The following are excerpts from the verdict and U.S. and British reaction.
Reported excerpts from the court verdict"He has frequently denied the prophethood of the great prophet of Islam and the rule of the sacred religion of Islam. And he has proven his apostasy by organizing evangelistic meetings and inviting others to Christianity, establishing a house church, baptizing people, expressing his faith to others and denying Islamic values."
-- National Post
"Yousef Nadarkhani confessed that he converted to Christianity and helped other people to convert and named himself a shepherd and insisted in Christianity. He doesn't believe in Mohammad, Imams and the Quran.
"The contents of the file also support these facts but investigation is needed to prove that he was a Muslim after the age of maturity and practicing Islam. There is not any witness from friends, relatives, family and Muslim people who were in contact with him so the file is incomplete.
"According to the sentence of Imams such as [Ayatollah] Khomeini, the witness is needed to prove whether or not he was a Muslim and if he was a Muslim but remained unwilling to repent, the execution ruling is to be issued."
-- New Statesman
Pastor Nadarkhani statement refusing to recant: "I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant."
White House statement on the verdict Sept. 29: "The United States condemns the conviction of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people. That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations.
"A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion.
Cong. John Boehner on religious persecution in Iran, Sept. 28: "Religious freedom is a universal human right. The reports that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani will be sentenced to death by the Iranian government unless he disavows his Christian faith are distressing for people of every country and creed. While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare Yousef Nadarkhani's life, and grant him a full and unconditional release.
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Sept 28: "Despite the finding that Mr. Nadarkhani did not convert to Christianity as an adult, the court continues to demand that he recant his faith or otherwise be executed. The most recent court proceedings are not only a sham, but are contrary to Iranian law and international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague's statement Sept. 28: "I deplore reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the Supreme Court of Iran to recant his faith. This demonstrates the Iranian regime's continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom. I pay tribute to the courage shown by Pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence."
**This article is presented by Tehran Bureau, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars as part of the Iran project at iranprimer.usip.org.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/home.php
Below is an open and actual message for your Beatitude, a message from Iran.
Please note that an Iranian court has imposed the death sentence on Yousef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old protestant preacher, for apostasy after he repeatedly refused to recant his Christian faith.
Against all Christian values, teachings and the faith of the majority of your people the Maronites all over the world, you have boldly and with no shame sided with the Iranian and Syrian regimes of Axis of Evil.
Not only you hailed their criminal atrocities but also you have been advocating for their Hezbollah's proxy arsenal of destruction and terrorism in Lebanon.
We wonder how a man of cloth with you noble status and position would abandon Jesus Christ, as well as the historical convictions of the Maronite Church and replicate Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus who handed Him to the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver. Below is a report, an actual one, a human Dilemma that shows in reality how the Iranian regime that you blindly support is protecting and safeguarding the Christians. Is this the kind of protection that you are endeavoring to bring to the Lebanese Christians? Shame on you!!
We call on you to repent, ask Almighty God for forgiveness and to immediately revoke all your pro Axis of Evil stances and offer the required penances.
At the same time we reiterate our call for all the Maronites in the USA to boycott all the events where you will be present during your pastoral visit. Again you do not represent us, we the Maronites and accordingly we have no what so ever obligation to abide with your instructions and political stances.
Read the below report and take action!!
Death Sentence on Christian Leader Yousef Nadarkhani
http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2011/sep/29/death-sentence-christian-leader-yousef-nadarkhani
30 SEP 2011 Comments'I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant.'
[ quote, unquote ] An Iranian court has imposed the death sentence on Yousef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old protestant preacher, for apostasy after he repeatedly refused to recant his Christian faith. The verdict has generated international condemnation this week. The following are excerpts from the verdict and U.S. and British reaction.
Reported excerpts from the court verdict"He has frequently denied the prophethood of the great prophet of Islam and the rule of the sacred religion of Islam. And he has proven his apostasy by organizing evangelistic meetings and inviting others to Christianity, establishing a house church, baptizing people, expressing his faith to others and denying Islamic values."
-- National Post
"Yousef Nadarkhani confessed that he converted to Christianity and helped other people to convert and named himself a shepherd and insisted in Christianity. He doesn't believe in Mohammad, Imams and the Quran.
"The contents of the file also support these facts but investigation is needed to prove that he was a Muslim after the age of maturity and practicing Islam. There is not any witness from friends, relatives, family and Muslim people who were in contact with him so the file is incomplete.
"According to the sentence of Imams such as [Ayatollah] Khomeini, the witness is needed to prove whether or not he was a Muslim and if he was a Muslim but remained unwilling to repent, the execution ruling is to be issued."
-- New Statesman
Pastor Nadarkhani statement refusing to recant: "I am resolute in my faith and Christianity and have no wish to recant."
White House statement on the verdict Sept. 29: "The United States condemns the conviction of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. Pastor Nadarkhani has done nothing more than maintain his devout faith, which is a universal right for all people. That the Iranian authorities would try to force him to renounce that faith violates the religious values they claim to defend, crosses all bounds of decency, and breaches Iran's own international obligations.
"A decision to impose the death penalty would further demonstrate the Iranian authorities' utter disregard for religious freedom, and highlight Iran's continuing violation of the universal rights of its citizens. We call upon the Iranian authorities to release Pastor Nadarkhani, and demonstrate a commitment to basic, universal human rights, including freedom of religion.
Cong. John Boehner on religious persecution in Iran, Sept. 28: "Religious freedom is a universal human right. The reports that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani will be sentenced to death by the Iranian government unless he disavows his Christian faith are distressing for people of every country and creed. While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare Yousef Nadarkhani's life, and grant him a full and unconditional release.
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Sept 28: "Despite the finding that Mr. Nadarkhani did not convert to Christianity as an adult, the court continues to demand that he recant his faith or otherwise be executed. The most recent court proceedings are not only a sham, but are contrary to Iranian law and international human rights standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague's statement Sept. 28: "I deplore reports that Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the Supreme Court of Iran to recant his faith. This demonstrates the Iranian regime's continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom. I pay tribute to the courage shown by Pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence."
**This article is presented by Tehran Bureau, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars as part of the Iran project at iranprimer.usip.org.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/home.php
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