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Christian pastor sentenced to death in Iran released

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  • Description

    Youcef Nadarkhani freed after 3 years in prison

  • Duration 5:48
  • Date

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Plus some huge news this -- and a story we have covered over the past couple of years right here in America live.

The case of -- a Ronnie and pastor who was sentenced to death.

For refusing to renounce his Christian faith.

This weekend Yousef -- Connie was finally reunited with his family after spending the last three years waiting to die.

In in -- Ronnie in prison.

After a six hour hearing the 35 year old was found guilty of a lesser charge.

And was ultimately released and sentenced to just time served.

Trace Gallagher has the -- -- unbelievable Trace.

It really -- remember why this is so big negatives because under he Ronnie in law you can be executed with out warning at any time so.

This is very unexpected his release and some who -- Ronnie Lott very closely say this must've been some kind of disagreement between -- Ronnie and leadership about the degree of punishment because only the supreme leader.

I tell how many or the head of the judiciary can halt executions but under -- real law.

If the leaders disagree about the punishment that it cannot happen so.

The local court acquitted him on a -- to see or abandoning Islam.

And convicted him of evangelism among Muslims they sentenced him to three years he got credit for time served many believe -- -- that international pressure is what got him free including media pressure from shows like America lives.

The American Center for Law and Justice as we know fought very long and hard for his freedom and on this show in May.

When the pressure continues I believe you -- in -- Connie walks and so does his lawyer and here's why.

They have to do business with governments they don't do business with the United States but they do business with Brazil they do business with the EU they do business -- Germany.

This becomes a diplomatic.

Approach that has to be -- here.

Now that said pastor not a -- future is still very much a concern because two decades ago another Christian pastor.

Had he is a -- -- charge reversed.

And two days later he was murdered when he got out of jail now you can see he's with his wife daughter Connie and two children.

Exactly what he is immediate future plans.

Are still at this point a little bit unclear.

-- wow -- Trace thank you well according to human rights groups not a Connie was just one of hundreds of people in Iran serving time on faith based charges.

For the pastors release and what a moment it must've bent to hear.

That news GA.

It was I recalled my god moment because frankly -- and we weren't expecting that we're expecting new charges that was the information we're getting.

On the ground from the lawyers that new charges were expected to be brought and I think the -- is exactly correct what happened here the Ayatollah.

Made the decision that the international pressure and spotlight on this was just too much.

For the regime to bear and -- not a -- walks out of jail to his two children and his wife.

First time in 1062.

Days and I -- it.

Reiterates something here that I've said before I want to thank you and Fox News.

For covering this because it gave it a global.

Interest we were tweeting three million people a day a lot of that.

Because of the interest that you all had in this case and we won this through media -- -- this was not a situation where you you're gonna really get justice in a courtroom.

Although his lawyers got a valiant effort on his lawyers map that's for sure but the end result is he is out -- is free.

We're monitoring it very closely though from the precise reasons that we're just mention and that is there's been a history in the past where people have been released.

And then murder so we're watching that very closely.

What I mean.

What do you think was that was the straw that broke the camel's back because you know there had -- attention to this.

And yet we kept hearing that the death sentence was that was in place and then we would get false reports that he had been executed.

So what do you where -- was the ultimate you know didn't straw that broke the camel's back the Ayatollah.

I think the economic realities when you've got governments that do business with I ran like Brazil led to well we have representatives on my son Jordan and his wife went down and met with Brazilian representatives.

-- Mineta talked to the vice president -- about.

A very significant outreach from Brazil and Brazil went to.

I ran and the same thing in Russia by the way we've got an office in Moscow -- the Russian orthodox patriarch.

Was contacted as -- Russian government authorities in this became a national embarrassment and has started to be economic consequences here plus it was embarrassing.

For the Ayatollah in the regime they -- everybody around the world -- was concerned about human rights knew about Yousef and our economy.

And the end result I think that pressure is what resulted in his release in the end result of that released by the way I think.

May well bode well for others that are in a similar situation as we keep the spotlight on this persecution.

That -- minority religion specifically here Christians are having it in the -- is a difficult situation Iran is a lot of trouble in Egypt right now but this was a great victory where are.

Drove is an understatement as you could tell me mrs.

Beyond anything we anticipated this quickly I thought it might happen as I said in May.

But -- -- big was happening Saturdays that was great news.

-- -- our viewers you know that year -- very kind to give credit to other people but the American Center for Law and Justice your group is specifically dedicated to be a deal that religious freedom.

And freedom of speech are in a valuable god given rights and -- -- and -- principles successfully here.

Thanks thank you for following -- -- get really made a difference thanks for being here unbelievable we're taking your thoughts on on the Twitter let me know you think at Megyn Kelly.

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