It has been more than 1,000 days since a Christian pastor was thrown into an Iranian jail for leaving Islam and sentenced to death for , as the U.S. State Department put it , `` simply following his faith . '' On Monday , the agency once again called on Iran to release Youcef Nadarkhani . `` Pastor Nadarkhani still faces the threat of execution for simply following his faith , and we repeat our call for Iranian authorities to release him immediately , '' said a statement from State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland . His next scheduled court date is September 8 . Nadarkhani , born to Muslim parents in the northern Iranian town of Rasht , converted to Christianity when he was 19 . Later he was ordained as a minister and led a network of house churches in Iran . He was arrested in October 2009 after he lodged a protest with local education officials after learning his child was being forced to read from the Quran , the Muslim holy book , in school . He was charged with apostasy and convicted in a provincial court -- which sentenced him to death . He appealed , and during a trial in a lower court , refused to recant his beliefs . The case made its way to the Supreme Court , which said Nadarkhani 's sentence could be overturned if he recanted . The 34-year-old pastor has refused . Even though the constitution of Iran -- a predominantly Shiite Muslim country -- guarantees equality to members of religious minorities , that has not been the case in practice . And while apostasy is not an offense codified in Iranian law , converts from Islam often face the death penalty , Amnesty International said . Persecution has increased since Iran 's disputed presidential election in 2009 , with Baha'is , Christian converts and even Sunni Muslims bearing the brunt . In April 2010 , the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported a rise in church raids and harassment of worshippers by Iranian authorities . And Amnesty International , in a report released earlier this year , said `` repeated calls by the Supreme Leader and other authorities to combat `` false beliefs '' -- apparently an allusion to evangelical Christianity , Baha'ism and Sufism -- appear to have led to an increase in religious persecution . '' In February , the White House issued a pointed statement in the Nadarkhani case , strongly condemning the reports of an execution order . `` This action is yet another shocking breach of Iran 's international obligations , its own constitution , and stated religious values , '' the statement said . `` 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. `` From small churches to large organizations , Nadarkhani 's case has galvanized American Christians . The Voice of the Martyrs , an organization that monitors and attempts to assist with persecuted and minority churches around the world , has closely followed Nadarkhani 's case and other developments involving Christians in Iran . But the issue has not been solely spearheaded by Christian groups ; Muslim organizations have also been vocal about condemning Iran . `` These types of cases , especially around apostasy , are too frequent occurrences in the Muslim world and as a Muslim , I am appalled , '' said Harris Zafar , national spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community . `` To do this in the name of Islam , I know that this is n't Islam . It is a violation of human rights and it is a violation of Islam . '' The American Center for Law and Justice -- a group `` specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and freedom of speech are inalienable , God-given rights '' -- was asked by the pastor 's lawyers last year to help publicize Nadarkhani 's case , according to Jodran Sekulow , executive director of the group . Since that time , Sekulow has been in somewhat regular contact with the pastor 's legal team and the ACLJ have organized a Twitter campaign called `` Tweet for Youcef . '' The group says the campaign is now reaching more than 2.5 million Twitter accounts in 234 countries and territories around the globe each day . In March , the U.S. House of Representatives passed on a 417-1 vote a resolution condemning Iran for imprisoning Nadarkhani , while calling for his immediate release . In a letter posted May 30 on Voice of the Martyrs website , Nadarkhani seemed a bit taken aback by all the attention his case was garnering and by those using it for political purposes . `` I want to appreciate all those ( who ) are trying to reach this goal , '' he said . `` At the end I hope my freedom will be prepared as soon as possible ... ''
Youcef ##zai 's next scheduled execution date is September 30 . He has been sentenced to death for leaving Islam . The House has passed a resolution condemning Iran for imprisoning him . Nadarkhani 's case has galvanized American Christians .