Kathryn Jean Lopez passes along information from the American Center for Law and Justice:
We have just received a report from our source in Iran that a judge has agreed to overturn Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s death penalty sentence. However, at this time, ACLJ representatives have not received official notice from the court and are working to confirm this report. By no means does this mean that Pastor Youcef will be set free without some additional punishment, potentially a long jail sentence or worse.
Paul Marshall reacts:
Great if true. My best guess is that they’ll avoid death penalty because of international opprobrium — i.e. us, and others like us, but will go for a heavy sentence that will be less stark than death. From their view, that deflects much of the criticism.We need to continue pushing.
Lopez asks, "Secretary Clinton? President Obama? Anybody in this administration?"
