Special prayer on Pastor Nadarkhani’s birthday

St Paul’s Cathedral is dedicating tomorrow’s 12:30pm Eucharist to Yousef Nadarkhani, the Iranian pastor facing a death sentence for apostasy, to mark his 35th birthday.

The service will be led by Canon Mark Oakley of St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Reverend Stuart Windsor, Special Ambassador for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), will lead a special intercessory prayer for Pastor Nadarkhani during the service.

Canon Mark Oakley said: “The 12th April is Yousef’s birthday and it is right that as we celebrate the day God gave him life, so we pray that this same beloved life will be saved from torture and execution. When one brother or sister in Christ suffers, all suffer. Our concern for Yousef and his family will be voiced under the dome of St Paul’s and at the same time we call on the Iranian authorities to mercifully release this prisoner of conscience and to uphold both Iranian and international law in securing the equality and human rights of all Christian people in Iran.”

Reverend Stuart Windsor said: “On behalf of Pastor Nadarkhani, his family and church, we would like to thank St Paul’s Cathedral for dedicating this service to him. We have seen a swell of global support for the pastor in the past six months, with Christians worldwide joining in CSW’s month of prayer for him ending on 12 April. We continue to call on the Iranian authorities to lift the death sentence, grant his immediate release and follow due process, ensuring respect for the right to freedom of religion. Pastor Nadarkhani’s case is likely to set a precedent for how such cases are treated in future and CSW remains concerned for the welfare of a number of Iranian Christians in prison who could face a similar fate. We encourage the Church worldwide to unite in prayer for Iran’s Christians at this time of intensified persecution.”

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact Kiri Kankhwende, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 (0)20 8329 0045 / +44 (0) 78 2332 9663, email kiri@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a Christian organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

Notes to Editors:

1. Service information:

Eucharist Service:

Preacher: The Revd Canon Mark Oakley, Treasurer, St Paul’s Cathedral

Date: Thursday 12 April

Venue: St Paul’s Cathedral

Time: 12:30pm

Entry is free and all are welcome

2. St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s is the cathedral church of the diocese of London, which it has served for over 1,400 years. The current building has become a potent symbol of the life of a nation and is one of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late seventeenth century, its stones have absorbed the hopes, fears, sorrows and joys of generations and stand as a enduring symbol of our communion with those gone before and those still to come. Each year nearly two million people flock to the cathedral for services, concerts, debates, educational events, performing arts and sightseeing. All are most welcome.

3. For more information about Pastor Nadarkhani’s case, please visit www.csw.org.uk/nadarkhani

4. Please include the following linked text in any online articles using the above information… Find out more about religious freedom in Iran from Christian Solidarity Worldwide.