{"id":2394,"date":"2012-02-23T14:12:34","date_gmt":"2012-02-23T19:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/faithandjustice\/?p=2394"},"modified":"2012-02-23T16:21:54","modified_gmt":"2012-02-23T21:21:54","slug":"jay-sekulow-keeping-pastor-youcef-in-the-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2012\/02\/jay-sekulow-keeping-pastor-youcef-in-the-news.html","title":{"rendered":"Jay Sekulow: Keeping Pastor Youcef in the News"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>One of the most powerful tools we can use in dealing with\u00a0Iran is publicity. At a time when Iran is flexing its political and military muscle around the globe, we know that they are hoping to keep the plight of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani quiet.<\/p>\n

Iran would prefer to act in private – without the world watching – moving forward to punish this young father of two for his Christian beliefs.<\/p>\n

Through our sources in Iran, we have been told that an execution warrant may have been issued for his death. And, we have confirmation that Pastor Youcef is still alive.<\/p>\n

As our work continues in this country and abroad on securing the release of Pastor Youcef, we also know that when it comes to keeping Pastor Youcef alive, the more media coverage, the better.<\/p>\n

I am pleased to report that in the past 24 hours, we have assisted in telling Pastor Youcef’s story – and the grave danger he now faces – to numerous media outlets around the world including: FoxNews.com<\/a>, MSNBC.com<\/a>, the International Business Times<\/a>\u00a0 with its global reach, and one of the most influential and well-read papers\u00a0in the United Kingdom<\/a>. In the Middle East, the Jerusalem Post<\/a> has picked up the story. We’ve also been able to share this important story with our friends in the Christian media on-air\u00a0in television interviews<\/a>\u00a0and in print online<\/a>, some as far away as Australia<\/a>. We’re even doing an interview with one of Brazil’s top news programs, which reaches more than 30-million people a day.<\/p>\n

We also know that this is the time to keep the pressure on Iran. Nearly 100,000 Americans have signed on to our petition<\/a> in just a matter of days\u00a0urging members of Congress to approve a resolution\u00a0condemning Iran<\/a> and demanding the immediate release of Pastor Youcef.<\/p>\n

And, we are spreading the word in a very big way through social media. Our Twitter campaign is exploding<\/a>. We are reaching nearly one-half million Twitter accounts daily, with nearly 2,000 people allowing us to tweet through their account. We’re reaching 184 counties and territories around the world.<\/p>\n

All of this is happening as more pressure is being applied to Iran from Washington. The White House Press Secretary issued an important statement<\/a> today condemning Iran and calling for the immediate release of Pastor Youcef. The statement, posted here<\/a>, condemns “in the strongest possible terms” Iran’s latest action which\u00a0is “yet another shocking breach of Iran\u2019s international obligations, its own constitution, and stated religious values.” The statement is clear: “The United States stands in solidarity with Pastor Nadarkhani, his family, and all those who seek to practice their religion without fear of persecution – a fundamental and universal human right.” The State Department also issued a strong statement, posted here<\/a>, expressing its deep concern about Iran’s desire to put Pastor Youcef to death. The statement concludes: “We stand with religious and political leaders from around the world in condemning Youcef Nadarkhani\u2019s conviction and call for his immediate release.”<\/p>\n

We are doing all that we can to keep attention – and pressure – on Iran. We continue to ask for your prayers. This is a critical time for Pastor Youcef and his family.<\/p>\n

Jay Sekulow<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most powerful tools we can use in dealing with\u00a0Iran is publicity. At a time when Iran is flexing its political and military muscle around the globe, we know that they are hoping to keep the plight of Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani quiet. 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He is also Chief Counsel of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ). Jay Sekulow is one of the leading defenders of constitutional rights and religious liberties in the United States. Over the past 25 years, Jay Sekulow has amassed an unparalleled record of accomplishment, arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court on 12 occasions. His aggressive litigation strategy before the Supreme Court has led to many landmark First Amendment victories. In his first case before the Supreme Court, Jews for Jesus, Jay Sekulow secured the right of religious groups to pass out tracks in airports. In Mergens, Jay Sekulow successfully protected the right of students to form Bible clubs and prayer groups on public school campuses. In Lamb\u2019s Chapel, Jay Sekulow cleared the way for churches to have equal access to public facilities in the same way that other groups are permitted to utilize those facilities. In the Bray and Operation Rescue cases, Jay Sekulow protected the free speech rights of pro-life advocates to be free from criminal prosecution for conveying their pro-life message. In McConnell v. FEC, Jay Sekulow protected the right of young people to engage in the political process by donating to the campaign of their choice. In Pleasant Grove, Jay Sekulow paved the way for governments to be able to display Ten Commandments monuments, and other monuments of their choosing, in public parks. Through the ACLJ, Jay Sekulow engages the political, legal, and cultural battles facing America today. He routinely works with Members of Congress, advising them on proposed legislation and representing them in critical legal matters. Jay Sekulow has also testified before Congress on the constitutionality of proposed legislation. Also, in addition to being a successful Supreme Court advocate, Jay Sekulow is a highly respected broadcaster. Jay Sekulow is the host of Jay Sekulow Live! which airs each weekday on over 850 radio stations nationwide, in addition Sirius and XM satellite radio. He brings insight and education to listeners daily through this national call-in radio program. He is also the host of the ACLJ This Week, the ACLJ\u2019s weekly television program. Jay Sekulow regularly appears on major media outlets, including FOX News, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC, where he is sought out for his vast experience in constitutional law and his unique insight into many of the pressing legal and political issues facing America today. He is frequently quoted in the nation's leading newspapers and often contributes opinion editorials to national publications. Jay Sekulow has also published numerous law review and other scholarly articles. Jay Sekulow has received numerous honors for his groundbreaking legal work in the area of free speech and religious liberties. The Legal Times has named Sekulow one of \u201cThe 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 Years\u201d and the National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \u201c100 Most Influential Lawyers\u201d in the United States. In addition, TIME Magazine listed Jay Sekulow as one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America. Jay Sekulow\u2019s legal work in defense of religious liberties and human rights extends beyond the United States, having founded the ECLJ in Strasbourg, France, which maintains consultative status with the United Nations. He has also opened offices in Pakistan, Africa, and Jerusalem, Israel. Jay Sekulow is a staunch defender of Israel, presenting arguments before the International Criminal Court at the Hague. His efforts in support of Israel\u2019s right to defend itself from terrorist attacks have been commended by Israeli government officials, one official stating, \"Jay was instrumentally-involved in projects that the President of Israel and the Prime Minister put on our national agenda.\" Jay Sekulow also has a passion for educating the next generation of religious liberty advocates. He is a member of the Regent University Law School Faculty as a Distinguished Professor of Law and routinely teaches courses on constitutional law and presents guest lectures. Jay Sekulow has also started educational programs in international human rights law in Strasbourg, France and at Handong University in South Korea. Jay Sekulow is a graduate of Mercer University, earning both a bachelor\u2019s degree and doctor of jurisprudence. Sekulow served on the editorial staff of the Mercer Law Review and graduated cum laude. He later earned a Ph.D. from Regent University, writing his dissertation on American Legal History. Jay Sekulow also serves on the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, D.C. Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsels full biography and video. Jay Sekulow on Facebook. Jay Sekulow on Twitter. Jay Sekulow on YouTube.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/author\/jay_sekulow"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2394"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2404,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394\/revisions\/2404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}