Iran denies Christian Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani’s children their high school diplomas
wo Iranian Christian children whose father is imprisoned for his faith have been denied high school diplomas by the state. The government insists that they complete Islamic education first.
Their father, Yousef Nadarkhani, was first arrested in 2009 after he protested a educational policy that required all students to take a course in Quran study. Nadarkhani, a convert to Christianity, was then charged with apostasy and sentenced to death. The sentence was overturned in 2012 thanks to international pressure. He was re-arrested four years later, and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in Evin Prison.
Nardarkhani’s children are now the ages of 17 and 15. With their father and primary breadwinner having spent a significant amount of their childhood in jail, the family life has suffered significant challenges. The failure of the state to grant diplomas to religious minorities is a common occurrence. It is a great source of anxiety to the family, according to Middle East Concern.
Photo/Tijl Vercaemer
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