There's a significant difference between a religion and a state attempting to use that religion as its instrument of coercion and power. Regardless of your views on Islam, an inability to recognize the difference between the two is intellectually vacuous at best.

Are you implying that executing someone for apostasy is a function of the state and not the teaching of Islam?

In fairness, I think Mark is confusing Sunni and Shia brands of Islam to some extent. While Islam does see religion and state as part of a continuum, there is a strong tradition in Shia Islam of religious and state separation. Khomeni's revolution in Iran was a major break with Shia tradition.

Yet another reason to regard the Iranian regime as especially dangerous. They hold to a version of Islam that is particularly totalitarian and eschatological in orientation.

My brother in Christ who is facing execution for his faith is another victim of the tyranny of the Iranian government and the general religious oppression found in Middle Eastern Muslim nations.

I pray that our government will not sit silently by in the face of this criminal action.

Have you forgotten what nearly happened to the Chrstian convert in Afghanistan?

"IV. 89: "They would have you disbelieve as they themselves have disbelieved, so that you may be all like alike. Do not befriend them until they have fled their homes for the cause of God. If they desert you seize them and put them to death wherever you find them. Look for neither friends nor helpers among them..." Baydawi (died c. 1315-16), in his celebrated commentary on the Koran, interprets this passage to mean: "Whosover turns back from his belief ( irtada ), openly or secretly, take him and kill him wheresoever ye find him, like any other infidel. Separate yourself from him altogether. Do not accept intercession in his regard". Ibn Kathir in his commentary on this passage quoting Al Suddi (died 745) says that since the unbelievers had manifested their unbelief they should be killed."

"Abul Ala Mawdudi [1903-1979], the founder of the Jamat-i Islami, is perhaps the most influential Muslim thinker of the 20th century, being responsible for the Islamic resurgence in modern times. He called for a return to the Koran and a purified sunna as a way to revive and revitalise Islam. In his book on apostasy in Islam, Mawdudi argued that even the Koran prescribes the death penalty for all apostates. He points to sura IX for evidence:
"But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion. We detail our revelations for a people who have knowledge. And if they break their pledges after their treaty (hath been made with you) and assail your religion, then fight the heads of disbelief Lo! they have no binding oaths in order that they may desist."(IX: 11,12)"

Why couldn't it be that little punk whom they released the other day and who promptly condemned both Iran ~and~ the USA for holding political prisoners. ~~gnashing teeth~~

The Iranian government is many horrible things but it is not "godless". Stop trying to pin all the evil in the world on atheism.

"Anyone out there think we can trust these homicidal nuts with nuclear weapons?"

Ron Paul and his supporters

It is a tragedy. Thank you for doing this important story telling.

wpa38, your comment about Iran not being the '51st state' speaks of potential government intervention, which is not an issue in article - this is about individuals and NGO's who care about freedom of religion.

And, instead of simply naming 3 states, can you be more specific about Texas, Idaho, Utah? If so, you might find that those were armed conflicts with law enforcement, rather than individuals being executed for simply changing their religion. Drawing a moral equivalence between armed battle with federal government and trial/execution of an individual for apostasy is troubling.

Iran is merely legislating and acting out a well-known Hadith (saying of the Prophet) from Sahih al-Bukhari, 9:84:57: ""Whoever changed his religion, then kill him".

None of our business? Depends on what's important to you. Fortunately for people like Yousef Nadarkhani, there are some who do care about theological claims and their enforcement by law.