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Christian Pastor Facing Execution in Iran

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    Man risking life by standing up for faith

  • Duration 5:05
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Our -- so there is worldwide criticism after shocking reports that a Christian pastor.

Is now facing execution in Iran for not renouncing his religion.

He is a Ronnie and his name is Yousef.

Not our Connie excuse me and He is in his thirties He converted to christianity when He was nineteen and is refusing to recant his -- House speaker John Boehner is one of the strongest voices in this case and He is demanding the release.

This pastor and He says this site urged Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path and to -- not -- Connie.

His life and to grant him a full and unconditional release.

Joined now by -- DOS or who is the president and founder of the American Islamic forum for democracy.

And by the Jonathan Morris who is Roman Catholic priest and a Fox News contributor -- and welcome.

Good to have you here this morning -- is a very serious case this is a Christian man with a family in Iran.

He runs a house church because He can't build.

His own chapel in that country so they go from house to house and he's had a growing following.

And that may be why he's getting a lot of attention here city -- to take that on first.

-- and I think it's so important for us to realize that first -- -- we need to do everything we can to stop this execution have released.

I applaud -- is speaker banners courage and and -- -- this issue up I expect Secretary Clinton make a statement.

The president will be important to make a statement because this is one case of many of the tip of the iceberg of hundreds over 200 people in Iran.

Arrested for evangelizing in just the last six months.

And the -- processing in the penalties against it and those that speak out speaks to the deeper problem with the fascism of theocratic states like Iran.

That persecute minorities -- the highs and Christians.

Persecute moderate Muslims I -- Martha his attorneys actually a Muslim that's been disbarred for trying to help Christians like.

Like -- if an open order to be free.

And what happens is a posse sort of like committing treason against the Islamic state so until groups like ours and others.

Get a platform to see that you know what you need to separate mosque and state and stop this program -- sure -- that indoctrinate its youth remember.

This in this minister.

What what really got the government upsetting Ron was that He didn't want his children and doctor you by the Iranian government that we spoke up and is trying to make -- stance against them and this is why he's -- trying to stop him from speaking out and and kill him.

I -- in this story reminds me of the stories of the lives of saints.

You know He he's literally taking his own life in his hands to stand up for his Christian faith.

That's right Martha and there's certainly there's there's a very interest -- political dimension to this but that number one.

Story.

The story line is that this man and his -- as well.

And had decided to risk their own lives have decided to risk their own family's lives for the sake of their fundamental beliefs I remember so well when Condoleezza Rice.

Said that religious liberty has is not just one right among many.

But it is.

Interestingly enough -- that I looked yesterday there was one news story Anderson I could find it was done by foxnews.com.

Today 253.

It means the media standing up and saying.

This is shameful and hopefully not just speaker Boehner but the president United States and the free world -- stands to UN.

And say we will defund you unless you start standing up for the lives of these people.

I mean you think about the outcry effort Troy Davis who was executed recently.

Stories and we -- -- -- and understandably so okay because there was a lot of questions about that case.

But shouldn't we be as fired up about this case -- provides us in you know look -- way an example just show we stand for in terms of human rights and say.

As a country how well the Q can we expect something from the White House and from Hillary Clinton to speak out in this case city.

Well I hope we can I mean if if they're going to stand by the words that president Obama's stated at the UN last week that He was applauded for on the -- actually going to be about human rights and not just to show of dictators and I think ultimately they're going to need to make a statement and use this to say you know what we didn't walk away from the millions of Iranians that walked in the streets in the summer of 2009.

And try to recoup the loss of credibility that the United States had.

When we did walk away from them so maybe it's time now -- use use this case and so many others at litmus test to show that we stand for the universal declaration of human rights.

And behind Muslims Christians Jews the -- and others that are persecuted and fascist states like the Iranian regime.

Will be you know credit goes to John Boehner.

For bringing this into the country's attention.

And as you say we expect that we will hear something from the White House and perhaps -- State Department as well.

He's offensive this man -- whose life could be put to death any moment now really as of last night that window is open for his execution so we will continue to stand top of the spotted Jonathan.

Got my thanks see you for being here is a disaster as always a pleasure to have you Lindsay is well thank you sir -- -- -- -- --

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