SOURCE: THE CHRISTIAN POST

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s defense lawyer has predicted that the supreme leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei will reveal his “opinion” concerning the pastor’s case within the next 20 days.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is seen here in prison in Lakan, Iran. Nadarkhani faces execution for refusing to recant his Christian faith.

The defense lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah argues that although Khamenei is not obligated to reveal his decision to the public, lawyers, or the defendant’s family, any future action by the courts will imply that Khamenei has made his decision.

“The ayatollah can make any decision he wants. He controls the judiciary, who’s executed, who’s not executed, the military. The list goes on,” Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, told The Christian Post.

“Next time [the court] takes real action we’ll know that the [Ayatollah] has made some kind of decision,” he added.

Sekulow also contended that Khamenei does not need to openly state his opinion, but rather can control the court from behind the scenes, putting the decision in their hands.

The courts, however, may find it difficult to stand up against the backlash caused by either the international community or the local Muslim community, depending on the verdict.  [ READ MORE ]