According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Supreme Court returned Nadarkhani’s case to the lower court in October 2011 saying investigations were incomplete.
The lower court, the source added, has not completed its investigations yet and the case has not returned to the Supreme Court for a final decision.
By claiming that Nadarkhani, a rapist and extortionist from Gilan, is a convert to Christianity and priest, Western media outlets have been trying to intensify their propaganda campaign and mount pressure against Iran.
Iran has refuted allegations of violating human rights, stressing that Nadarkhani has a history of committing violent crimes and that he did not receive the death penalty for religious beliefs.
Deputy Governor of Gilan Province Ali Rezvani explained on October 1, 2011 Nadarkhani is guilty of security charges and running a brothel.
“This individual is guilty and his crime is not attempting to convert others to Christianity, rather his crimes are of a security nature,” he added.
The Iranian official rejected Western claims that Nadarkhani is a prisoner of conscience and his crime is his religion, saying “in our country no one is executed for his faith but he (Nadarkhani) is a Zionist and has committed security crimes.”
“This Islamic country (Iran) does not punish [those] choosing another religion rather it is God [that will reprimand],” Rezvani added.
SS/HGH